Quote:
Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!
Thanks for the very very helpful replies ya'll. I watched ten minutes of Brain Games last night (didn't have the attention span for any more than that) And if 20 random people guess at the number of gum balls in a gum ball machine, the average of those twenty guesses is almost always within a few % of the actual number of gum balls....point being, collectively, random people are usually right. And in this case, they are likely more correct than people with a bias. So thank you for your random, collective averageness. Sincerely.
I had a camp councelor when I was 13 and his camp name was "Lohtse"...a mountain next to Everest in Nepal. That lead me to a life time of climbing which always brought me back to the more dramatic Karakoram range. Trango Tower is 5000 feet straight up...almost twice that of El Cap. There are four 8000 meter peaks that you can walk right up to and touch. The great treks in Nepal just don't really compare...at least in my books.
The danger part sucks and I have no interest in thrill seaking by danger dodging. But it's either Pakistan or bust.
I do have a western guiding co. with a substantial presence in Pakistan and thus trusted local guides. So I think I've covered some bases correctly. But there is no getting around the big dumb looking white guy sore thumbing his way around town.
Oh, and I thought about the Chinese side. That seems dangerous in a whole different way. Looks mighty cool, however you miss all the big peaks on the Pakistani side.
I think the most likely outcome would be a safe round trip but with no way of knowing what the risk might actually be. You're always safe until you are not.
I also like the extensive preparation required, the training, the planning, learning a bit of Urdu etc. Gives me something to do for the next four months.
Plus my friends' dog has cancer and I'm going to need a distraction in the worst way. Soon.
Once again though, the responses here do provide some clarity. It's probably not the best idea.
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Well, unless you have people who really depend on you, I would honestly consider doing this trip. You've been thinking of doing it since you were 13, that kinda makes it a real bucket list kind of trip.
My only 2 cents to add - grow a beard. Start now, and it will (hopefully) be big and bushy by the time you leave. It will help you stand out a lot less.