By Rimsha Ali Shah.

It is not possible to encapsulate the breathtaking magnificence of the savage yet grandiose K2, and the majestic centerpiece of the Karakorum mountain range – Baltoro Glacier – in words.  For adventure tourism enthusiasts from Pakistan and beyond, the Gilgit-Baltistan region, and the Baltoro Glacier and K2 basecamp specifically, provides a sneak peak of the haunting paradise that rests at an altitude of 28,251 ft.

Shamshad Hussain, a Community College Initiative alumnus from the region, through his alumni small grants project The Baltoro /K2 Clean-Up Expedition Camp 2015: Sustaining Eco-Tourism, set out to preserve the charm and allure that has fascinated mountaineers from across the world.

Engaging 35 volunteers, including members of the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network and local porters, the team set out in hostile weather conditions to promote the message of eco-tourism.  For Shamshad, this was a project close to his heart.  Having already conducted World Environment Day and World Tourism Day activities, Shamshad now wanted to promote the concept of eco-tourism by engaging and educating the denizens of the region.

“The route that goes through to the Concordia K-2 basecamp is quite narrow.  No car or jeep can go through, which is why mountaineers require the assistance of porters and their animals.  Between 25,000 to 30,000 mountaineers in a year trek through this route.  Thus, it is all the more important that porters are educated on the importance of maintaining eco-friendly camp sites to truly preserve the raw, untamed beauty of this route”.

The team consisted of 10 Access alumni of the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network and 25 local porters actively engaged in assisting mountaineers all year round.  The two-week long expedition entailed camping in the cradle of the snow-capped Karakorum Range and collecting waste material spewed across the land, tainting the natural beauty of the area.  The waste materials included tin cans, paper, plastic and animal carcasses.  Despite the harsh weather conditions, the team was able to collect 2,750 kilograms of garbage from the 100 kilometers long route, which was handed over to the Central Karakorum Natural Park for eco-friendly disposal.

While commenting on the experience of being part of the team for the clean-up expedition, Hasnain, an alumnus of the Access Program, said,

“I had a dream to see K-2.  This expedition provided me with the opportunity to turn my dream into a reality, and also contribute towards the preservation of the environment.”

The activity has captured the attention of stakeholders regarding the idea of eco-tourism, especially in a region that has a massive influx of tourists from across the world.  The expedition was a learning experience for the porters on global warming, climate change and their surroundings, and encouraged them to seize ownership of maintaining the cleanliness of their routes during their usual travels.

The clean-up camp has also proved to be instrumental in inculcating ownership amongst the youth of the region, resulting in the creation of an environment-friendly youth group that upholds environmental ethics while mountaineering.

As the next step, Shamshad wants to produce a documentary on the journey of the 35 environment enthusiasts, who for two weeks, camped at Concordia and walked seven to eight hours a day to K2 basecamp, picking up litter on their way to and from the basecamp.  The documentary would be a testimonial to the motivation, ownership and commitment of the participants, and serve as an inspiration for the young boys and girls enrolled in schools across the region to work towards sustaining the environment.

Click here to check out pictures from the clean-up expedition.
Click here to read coverage of the project on Express Tribune.