K6, or Baltistan Peak, is a notable peak of the Masherbrum Mountains, a subrange of the Karakoram mountain range. Despite being much lower than the nearby Eight-thousanders and high 7000m peaks, it has huge, steep faces, and great relief above the nearby valleys, making it an impressive peak. A topographical summit is a point on a surface which is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. ... Shown in green is the Kashmiri region under Pakistani control. ... The most general definition of a mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands. ... Masherbrum is a mountain in the Karakoram region of the Pakistani Himalaya. ... Located in the mountainous regions of Gilgit, Ladakh & Baltistan, Gilgit and Baltistan are in Pakistan, the Karakoram is one of the great Himalayan mountain ranges, with many of the highest and most daunting peaks of the world. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically); large version (pdf) The geographic (earth-mapping) coordinate system expresses every horizontal position on Earth by two of the three coordinates of a spherical coordinate system which is aligned with the spin axis of the Earth. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically); large version (pdf) The geographic (earth-mapping) coordinate system expresses every horizontal position on Earth by two of the three coordinates of a spherical coordinate system which is aligned with the spin axis of the Earth. ... In climbing, a first ascent (FA) is the first climb to reach the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Southern and northern Mount Everest climbing routes as seen from the International Space Station. ... Located in the mountainous regions of Gilgit, Ladakh & Baltistan, Gilgit and Baltistan are in Pakistan, the Karakoram is one of the great Himalayan mountain ranges, with many of the highest and most daunting peaks of the world. ... The most general definition of a mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands. ... Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Makalu and Mount Everest as seen from the International Space Station. ...

Location

K6 is the highest peak in the area surrounding the Charakusa Glacier, a region which has seen renewed climbing interest in recent years. This glacier lies at the head of the Hushe valley, which in turn leads to the Shyok River and thence to the Indus. The Charakusa gives access to the north side of K6; to the southwest of the peak is the small Nangmah (or "Nangpah") Glacier, and to the east is the larger Kaberi Glacier and the Kaberi River valley.

History

The first ascent of K6 was in 1970, by an Austrian party, via the Southeast Ridge from the Nangmah Glacier.

The Himalayan Index lists 3 additional attempts, but no additional ascents, on K6.

Sources

• Jill Neate, High Asia: An Illustrated History of the 7000 Metre Peaks, ISBN 0-89886-278-8.
• Andy Fanshawe and Stephen Venables, Himalaya Alpine-Style, Hodder and Stoughton, 1995.
• Himalayan Index