Mountaineering Beginner Looking for Partners and/or Advice
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 4:30 amTL;DR Version: I have some backpacking experience and I am interested in getting into mountaineering. In near future, I would like to explore the glaciers and not so high peaks in Northern Pakistan (where I was born) – primarily in the same area as five of the world’s fourteen 8,000m peaks. I am here to look for mountaineering partner(s) who are either beginners or wouldn’t mind showing the ropes (pun intended) to a beginner.
I have been backpacking off and on, in Colorado, Oregon, and California, for the last six years. For the last year or so, I have been exploring the Sierras – mainly on land (backpacking) and some in the air (paragliding and powered paragliding). Recently, I had a chance to go back to Pakistan after a long time and I ventured as far as Skardu and Hushe (popular starting point for K-2, Gasherbrum I & II, Broad Peak, etc. expeditions). My visit made me realize that there is a whole avenue of nature exploration that I have been missing and I would love to develop the necessary skills to go explore more. Having said that, I do not find the whole idea of organized, large scale expeditions as attractive as venturing out with a trusted partner (or two). That’s what brings me here … I would like to find:
1) A beginner like me who may be interested in exploring domestically (US) to train and practice, and progressively work our way up, or
2) An experienced partner who is patient enough to let a beginner join them.
This may be a little unorthodox for most people, but if you have ever thought about going to Pakistan, I will be more than happy to be a ‘culture guide’ and help take care of the logistics ourselves instead of going through the overly commercialized expeditionism.
If you don't fit either category but can provide guidance, I will welcome any advice and suggestions.
Thanks
I have been backpacking off and on, in Colorado, Oregon, and California, for the last six years. For the last year or so, I have been exploring the Sierras – mainly on land (backpacking) and some in the air (paragliding and powered paragliding). Recently, I had a chance to go back to Pakistan after a long time and I ventured as far as Skardu and Hushe (popular starting point for K-2, Gasherbrum I & II, Broad Peak, etc. expeditions). My visit made me realize that there is a whole avenue of nature exploration that I have been missing and I would love to develop the necessary skills to go explore more. Having said that, I do not find the whole idea of organized, large scale expeditions as attractive as venturing out with a trusted partner (or two). That’s what brings me here … I would like to find:
1) A beginner like me who may be interested in exploring domestically (US) to train and practice, and progressively work our way up, or
2) An experienced partner who is patient enough to let a beginner join them.
This may be a little unorthodox for most people, but if you have ever thought about going to Pakistan, I will be more than happy to be a ‘culture guide’ and help take care of the logistics ourselves instead of going through the overly commercialized expeditionism.
If you don't fit either category but can provide guidance, I will welcome any advice and suggestions.
Thanks
I think I'm about ready to jump into the real world.