STEVE RAZZETTI MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY AND JOURNALISM

KARAKORAM: HUNZA / SHIMSHAL

"On the whole I was agreeably surprised at the village, which must be almost the most remote and inaccesible place in the Indian Empire, cut off as it is from the outer world, and hardly visited by anyone, native or foreign."

RCF Schomberg, Unknown Karakoram, 1934

Seen from the upper Braldu GlacierCanon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
Canon A1, 135mm, Kodachrome 64
   
On the treacherous old route between Shimshal village and the summer pastures at Shujerab and Shuwert.Canon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
     
  
In the Pamir-i-TangCanon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
Shuwert is the main summer grazing settlement used by the Shimshalis. It lies on the Shimshal Pass, and is home to a large proportion of the women and children of the village during the summer months.Canon A1, 50mm, Kodachrome 64
   
From the upper Braldu glacierCanon A1, 135mm, Kodachrome 64
     
  
Canon A1, 50mm, Kodachrome 64
   
The school-teacher from Shimshal crossing one of two jholas or flying-fox bridges across the raging summer meltwaters of the Shimshal River between Passu and Shimshal. Since this picture was taken a road has been completed to the village, and visitors no longer have to brave these dodgy contraptions. Whether or not a jeep is any safer is of course debateable.Canon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
Lone travellers can't use the jholas, and employ this dare-devil technique instead.Canon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
     
  
Canon A1, 50mm, Kodachrome 64
   
A view south over the valley of Zardgar Bin from the Zardgarbin Pass (4600m), to the north face of Disteghil Sar (7885m)Canon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
Shimshali kids at Shuwert, the summer grazing settlement on the Shimshal Pass (4650m)
     
  
Shimshali shepherdesses at ShuwertBronica ETRS, 75mm, Fujichrome 50(Flatbed Scan)
   
A view south into the Braldu from below the Shimshal PassCanon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
View south up the Braldu Glacier from a mountainside above the western flankCanon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
     
  
Taken on the descent south from the Lukpe La, this is an un-named peak immediately west of the col.Canon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
A view NW from just below the Lukpe La on the south sideCanon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
View west towards the Biafo glacier and Hispar Pass from the upper Sim GangCanon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
     
  
Mike Searle and Nick Graves escaping down the Biafo after crossing the Lukpe La from Shimshal in August 1988Canon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
The north face - telephoto from the Shashmirt Pass (±4400m)Canon A1, 135mm, Kodachrome 64
   
Canon A1, 50mm, Kodachrome 64
     
  
Canon A1, 50mm, Kodachrome 64
   
Canon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
A view south-east across the plains of Zhit Badav to the Karakoram, from a ridge above the Shimshal PassCanon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
     
  
Un-named peaks circa 5800m, to the south of the Shimshal PassCanon A1, 50mm, Kodachrome 64
   
From a ridge high above the Shimshal Pass, this shot shows a rare perspective on some of the great Karakoram peaks. K2 (8611m) is clearly visible.Canon A1, 135mm, Kodachrome 64
   
A ribbon of autumn glory amidst the mountain deserts of the Pamir-i-TangCanon A1, 135mm, Kodachrome 64
     
  
Shambi Khan is the head-man or lambarder of Shimshal. Seen here with his daughter ar Shuwert.Olympus AF1, 35mm, Fujichrome 50
   
A view back at the western flanks of this difficult pass north of Shimshal.Olympus AF1, 35mm, Fujichrome 50
   
Olympus AF1, 35mm, Fujichrome 50
     
  
A panorama looking south towards the Karakoram from this remote pass. On the left is Kanjut Sar (7760m), in the centre is Disteghil Sar (7885m)Olypus AF1, 35mm, Fujichrome 50
   
Trekkers on the Shupardin Pass, with the Pamir-i-Tang valley and the Chot Pert massif beyond.Olympus AF1, 35mm, Fujichrome 50
   
At Shuwert, on the Shimshal PassBronica ETRSi, 50mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Portrait of a village boyBronica ETRSi, 75mm, Fuji Velvia
   
A Shimshali woman takes back the bowl in which she gave me delicious dahi (curd) to eatBronica ETRSi, 50mm, Fuji RDP
   
Mungo Hulm trekking through this barren defile en-route between Shimshal and the Shimshal PassBronica ETRSi, 50mm, Fuji RDP
     
  
Graham "Mungo" Hulm surveys the awesome view from his pass above the Shimshal Valley. South, beyond the valley, lie the Malangutti and Yazghil glaciers and the north faces of Disteghil Sar (7885m) and Kanjut Sar (7760m)Bronica ETRSi, 75mm, Fuji RDP
   
Nick Groves, Shambi Khan and Daulat Kazi crossing the river that flows from the snout of the Malangutti glacier. This shot taken early morning - by midday this innocuous stream swells to a raging torrent, fed by the meltwaters from the glacierCanon A1, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
   
A boy and his sister minding their father's yak at homeBronica ETRSi, 50mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
A younf Shimshali girl at Shuwert, the summer grazing settlement on the Shimshal Pass at 4600mBronica ETRSi, 75mm, Fuji RDP
   
A boy cutting barleyBronica ETRSi, 50mm, Fuji Velvia
   
A view east across the Shimshal Pass from the top of Abdullah Khan Maidan. This legendary pass, first crossed by Younghusband in 1889 and then by Shipton in 1937, lies on the great Karakoram watershed. Rivers from the north-east side flow to oblivion in the Taklamakan desert in Xinjiang, whilst rivers from the south-west flow into the Indus and thence to the sea near Karachi....Bronica ETRSi, 50mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Shimshali girls out in the grazing lands minding their yaksBronica ETRSi, 50mm, Fuji RDP
   
These mysterious flatlands lie immediately south of the Shimshal PassBronica ETRSi, 50mm, Fuji Velvia
   
The Golden Pillar of Spantik (7027m), aka Golden Peak aka Yengutsar, at sunset from Karimabad in Hunza.This awe-inspiring pillar was first climbed in 1987 by two good friends of mine - Mick "Footpath" Fowler and "Slippery" Victor Saunders. Respect!Bronica ETRSi, 150mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Looking down valley from the last village in Pakistan before the Khunjerab Pass and Xinjiang (China)Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
The Chief Game Warden of the Khunjerab National Park at the Park HQ north of Sost in HunzaNikon FM2, 50mm, Fuji Velvia
   
This formidable granite spire stands proud of Ultar (7288m) above the capital of Hunza, Karimabad.Nikon FM2, 105mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
At dawn from KarimabadCanon A1, 135mm, Fujichrome
  
Near Passu in Hunza
   
Approaching Khunjerab
     
  
The highest peak in Nagar
  
Also known as Golden Peak, and Yengutsar by Hunza folk
   
Seen across the Hunza valley from HoparNikon FM2, Fujichrome