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Cooling Off in Skardu Skardu, Pakistan - Saturday, June 17, 2000
The heat that followed us up the KKH dissipated as the Indus River spread itself across the broad valley by Skardu. The valley floor is carpeted with a fine gray sand. These sediments were once trapped in the glaciers of the Karakoram and have been carried downstream by the river. As the topography flattened, the "glacial flour" settled out into huge shimmering deltas. Dust storms have carried and played with the exposed sand, transporting them into elaborate dunes 800 miles from the nearest ocean. Sitting at 7500 feet, Skardu has been a hub for trekkers and mountaineers for over 100 years. In August every year, polo teams from all over Baltistan congregate here for a tournament to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day. Since the Partition of Pakistan, Skardu has also been the military headquarters for the northern areas. We stumbled out of the van, tired and road weary, at the Indus Hotel. Friendly people and cold drinks persuaded us into booking three rooms, two for the expedition members and one for the gear. A tasty meal of chicken jel frazy and biryani with rice and chappatis followed. Then we all adjourned to our rooms for some well-needed sleep. — Dave Anderson, MountainZone.com Correspondent
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