Gondogoro Pass (; ) is a
mountain pass
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since mountain ranges can present formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both Human migration, human and animal migration t ...
that stands at an elevation of 5585 meters. It is located in the Baltistan region of Pakistan, approximately 25 km south of the world's second-highest peak, K2. This pass serves as a connection between the
Gondogoro Glacier
Gondogoro Glacier () or Gondoghoro Glacier is glacier near Concordia in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It serves as an alternative means to reach Concordia, the confluence of Baltoro Glacier and Godwin-Austen Glacier. See also
* Gondogoro Pass
*Lis ...
to the southwest and the
Vigne Glacier
Vigne Glacier (; ) is a glacier in Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan near Gondogoro Glacier and Baltoro Glacier. It provides access to Gondogoro (La) Pass. History
The glacier was named by Conway
after Godfrey Vigne (1801-1863), an early British t ...
to the northeast.
On the southwest side of the pass, the route descends into the
Hushe
Hushe (; ) is the last village of the Ghangche District of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is the highest village in the once extremely remote and impoverished Hushe Valley. Hushe men began working as cooks and porters for mountaineering expedi ...
village, which contains the highest settlements in the
Ghangche District
Ghanche District (; ) is a district of Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the te ...
.
Most climbers and trekkers approach Gondogoro Pass from the northeast side. In 1986, a route was established that connects
Concordia in the upper
Baltoro Glacier
The Baltoro Glacier (; ) is a glacier located in the Shigar District of the Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan. It stretches for in length. It is one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions. It is home to some of the world’s high ...
to the Hushe Valley by crossing the Gondogoro Pass. Since then, the pass has become a popular destination for trekkers and climbers. It offers views of the Karakoram's 8000m peaks.
The Gondogoro La, while a popular trekking route, presents challenging conditions. It involves Class 4 climbing that necessitates the use of
crampons
A crampon is a traction device attached to footwear to improve mobility on snow and ice during ice climbing. Besides ice climbing, crampons are also used for secure travel on snow and ice, such as crossing glaciers, snowfields and icefields, as ...
. On the northeast side, there are steep snow slopes with angles of up to 50 degrees, which pose
avalanche
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a Grade (slope), slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be triggered spontaneously, by factors such as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, othe ...
risks and often require the use of fixed ropes. The southwest side presents a longer and continuous 50-degree slope, accompanied by potential rockfall and avalanche hazards, which may require the installation of up to 300 meters of fixed ropes.
On 17 July 2021, Yahya Aziz, a 10-year-old from Lahore, Pakistan, achieved the remarkable feat of crossing the Gondogoro La, becoming the youngest person to do so.
When to visit
The pass is easier to cross earlier in the season and can be attempted as early as the last three or four days in June; earlier and one is likely to be the first party of the season to break the trail. By August, objective dangers from crevasses, avalanches and rock fall increase substantially as the snow cover begins to melt.
The pass may be approached either from the
Askole
Askole, Askoli, or Askoly () is a small town located in Braldo Valley (district Shigar), in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of Pakistan. Askole lies in a remote region of the Karakoram mountains above sea level. It is notable for being the final ...
village up the Baltoro Glacier valley to Concordia and then Ali Camp on Vigne Glacier northeast of the pass, or via the Hushe Valley (past the mouths of the Charakusa Glacier valley on the east and the Masherbrum glacier valley on the northwest, and passing just west of
Laila Peak.
Even though the ascending and descending sides of the pass have fixed dynamic ropes, crossing this pass requires judgement, fitness, prior acclimatisation, and basic mountaineering skills. High altitude local climbers remain near the top of the pass during the climbing season to maintain the ropes and assist.
Notable features

Numerous climbers regard this region as having some of the finest mountain scenery. Gondogoro Pass overlooks to the northeast what
Galen Rowell
Galen Avery Rowell (August 23, 1940 – August 11, 2002) was an American wilderness photographer, adventure photojournalist and mountaineer. Born in Oakland, California, he became a full-time photographer in 1972.
Early life and education
Rowe ...
termed the "Throne Room of the Mountain Gods." Apart from dozens more, one can see the following peaks from the pass:
*
K2(Choghori)
*
Broad Peak
Broad Peak (; ) is one of the eight-thousanders, and is located in the Karakoram range spanning Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and Xinjiang, China. It is the 12th highest mountain in the world with elevation above sea level. The first ascent of t ...
*
Masherbrum
Masherbrum, formerly known as K1, is a mountain located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of the Karakoram mountain range. It has an elevation of 7,821 metres (25,659 feet), ranking as the 22nd highest mountain in the world and the 9th highest ...
*
Laila Peak
*
Gasherbrum I
Gasherbrum I, originally surveyed as K5, and also known as Hidden Peak, is the 11th highest mountain in the world at above sea level. It is located between Shigar District in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of Pakistan and Tashkurgan in the Xi ...
*
Gasherbrum II
Gasherbrum II (; ; ); surveyed as K4, is the 13th highest mountain in the world at above sea level. It is the third-highest peak of the Gasherbrum massif, and is located in the Karakoram, on the border between Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan and ...
*
Gasherbrum III
Gasherbrum III (); ), surveyed as K3a, is a summit in the Gasherbrum massif of the Baltoro Muztagh, a subrange of the Karakoram on the border between Xinjiang, China and Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is situated between Gasherbrum II and IV.
...
*
Gasherbrum IV
Gasherbrum IV (; ), surveyed as K3, is the 17th highest mountain on Earth and the 6th highest in Pakistan, as well as the highest independent mountain under eight thousand meters in Pakistan.
One of the peaks in the Gasherbrum massif, its im ...
*
Trinity Peak
See also
*
Gondogoro Glacier
Gondogoro Glacier () or Gondoghoro Glacier is glacier near Concordia in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It serves as an alternative means to reach Concordia, the confluence of Baltoro Glacier and Godwin-Austen Glacier. See also
* Gondogoro Pass
*Lis ...
*
Laila Peak (Hushe Valley)
References
External links
{{Mountain passes of Pakistan
Mountain passes of Gilgit-Baltistan