The Karakoram Region is one of the most extreme mountaineering regions in the world with four eight-thousanders out of fourteen. Gasherbrum II is the thirteenth-highest peak in the world which magnificently lies on the border between Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan and Xinjiang of China administered by Pakistan. The 8,035m elevated peak is worldly renowned as the second highest peak in the Gasherbrum group after Gasherbrum I and “K4” named by the British surveyor, Thomas George Montgomerie in 1856 while he was partaking in The Great Trigonometric Survey in India. On the other hand, the Balti people beg to differ; the mountain has its own ancient name with a remarkable meaning formed with two different words: “rgasha” meaning beautiful, and “brum” meaning mountain.
A group of an international expedition led by Swiss, Guinter Oskar Dyhrenfurth was one of the firsts to explore the Gasherbrum Massif in 1934 but failed to reach the summits of both Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II. However, the peak was firstly summited by a courageous group of Austrians, Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch, and Hans Willenpart on July 7, 1956. Despite an avalanche during their climb which led to a scarcity of their food supplies, they were able to ascend and experience the summit of Gasherbrum II successfully. Moreover, this exquisite mountain has been successfully climbed in winter as well. A team of Cory Richards, Urubuko, and Simone Moro were the first to experience the summit in winter despite an enormous avalanche without the aid of porters and supplementary oxygen.
Propitiously, the mountain is considered one of the easiest eight-thousanders to ascend. Gasherbrum II could be the right peak for mountain enthusiasts who are initiating a mountaineering career. More than 930 successful ascents with 21 deaths have been recorded so far resulting 2% fatality rate. Over the past years, the mountain has been skied, parachuted, and snowboarded from the summit as it offers a great level of safety and convenience to the climbers. On the same page, this expedition on an eight-thousander is undoubtedly a lifetime experience that gifts some marvelous views of Baltoro Glacier, Muztagh Tower, Masherbrum, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum IV, and the impregnable K2. However, one requires an excellent level of psychological potency and physicality to stand glorious on its summit.
The best season to climb Broad Gasherbrum II:
The most favorable season to climb is summer. Most of the ascents have been accomplished in July and August as they are the warmest months of the year. The expedition to the summit of Gasherbrum II is more gratifying in these months than in winter.