On the Siachen Glacier, 1998
by Harish Kapadia
Part 5: Reaching the Northern Points
Gasherbrum-I, Faiz Peak & Turkestan La (37 kb)
(click thumbnail to view larger image)
On 22nd July 1998 we started at 6.30 a.m. and walked northwards on crisp snow and gently rising glacier. After turning the peak Faiz (6150 m) (one who is at the top) a wide bowl opened in front of us. We were faced with the Indira Ridge and a vast panorama. To north was the Indira Col (West) (the main Indira Col). I decided to reach this Col with Sherpa Pemba Tsering. After a walk of about 2 hours we were at the pass. At the pass we made a safe anchor and walked on the northern cornices to safely look down the Urdok glacier. This beautiful flat glacier led northwards to join the Shaksgam river which was visible. Several peaks were visible but unfortunately Gasherbrum I was in clouds. On the north was Chinese Turkestan where trekkers in recent years had roamed freely. Apart from the political divide we were standing on a major geographic divide too. The waters from this col drained in the south to the Siachen glacier, Nubra, Shyok and Indus rivers to merge with the warm waters of Arabian Sea. Waters to the north drained into the Urdok glacier, Shaksgam river, Yarkand river, Tarim and Qyurug rivers to merge with the Lop Nor lake.
Another part of our team, Vijay Kothari, Kaivan Mistry, Vineeta Muni and Capt. Suhag climbed towards the India Saddle. After a steep slope, where they had to use crampons, they stood on the northern-most point of India and enjoyed similar historic moments. We all gathered at the camp by afternoon.
It had taken us walk of 98 kilometres and actual walking for 12 days to reach the Indira Col (it had taken us 20 days in all, including days for ferrying loads and resting). The glacier rose from 3550 m to 5840 m in the mean rise of 1 to 26, in a distance of 72 km (the geographical length of the glacier).
Our party returned to the base in 8 days. The climbing team had already left for Leh. We all could meet back only in Bombay.