Rakaposhi also known as Dumani is a mountain within the Karakoram range in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. It is situated in the middle of the Nagar Valley and the Bagrote Valley. The mountain is extremely broad, measuring almost 20 km from east to west. It is the only peak on earth that descends directly and without interruption for almost 6,000 meters from its summit to its base.

Geography

Rakaposhi is a mountain in the Karakoram mountain range in the Gilgit-Baltistan territory, about 100 km north of the city of Gilgit. It is the 27th-highest mountain in the world. Rakaposhi rises over the Nagar Valley. Rakaposhi is the only mountain in the world with more than 5,000 meters height between its base camp and its summit; by contrast, all of the other tallest mountains in the world have less than 5,000 meters from base camp to the top. The first successful recorded ascent was in 1958 by Mike Banks and Tom Patey, members of a British expedition, via the southwest Spur/Ridge route. It was more than 20 years before another team successful reached the summit, in 1979.

Park

Rakaposhi is also known as Dumani ("Mother of Mist" or "Mother of Clouds"). The people of Nagar and Bagrot Valley have dedicated the Rakaposhi range mountain area as a community park. The minister for the northern areas inaugurated the park. The Rakaposhi mountain range is the home of endangered species such as Marco Polo sheep, snow leopard, brown bear, and wolves.

Notable features

Rakaposhi is notable for its exceptional rise over local terrain. On the north, it rises 5900 m in only an 11.2 km (7 mi) horizontal distance from the Hunza River. There are views of Rakaposhi from the Karakoram Highway on the route through Nagar. A tourist spot in the town of Ghulmet (located in the Hunza Valley) called "Zero Point of Rakaposhi" is the closest view point of the mountain. Rakaposhi is the only mountain in the world which rises straight from beautifully cultivated fields to the height of 25,550 feet. From many places this wonderful spectacle can be viewed right from the base to the top.

Time line

Climbing routes

The routes with successful summits so far have been (see the timeline as well): Attempts have also been made from the east side Bagrot Valley Hinearcha Glacier, the East Ridge, and the North Face.

Sources