@WishLivePak
most roads be closed or two difficult to drive for first timers, try to fly to Skardu to reach the shanrgila resort.. but it will be cold and snow, nothing else, you wont be able to do tracking or anything...
@krash
Well you can drive to Skardu during the winters without a problem (except for the inherent dangers of driving on those roads and cold that passes right through your bones, which most people can't take). It all depends on where you want to go, how far are you willing to go to get there and how susceptible are you to cold. I've climbed during the winters quite a few times, personally it's my favourite season to be there (but then I have been called a polar animal, so don't trust me on this :p). Furthermore, some areas will indeed be inaccessible, e.g. the Deosai Plains due to insane snow-fall, but all the places on the Gilgit-Skardu road and the KKH till at least the Atabad Lake will remain mostly accessible. The Atabad Lake freezes over during the winters making it difficult to cross over to the other side towards Gulmit and beyond. The Shangrila Resort on the Lower Kachura Lake is mostly closed due to there not being enough business in the winters.
If you could give me a more accurate idea of the places you want to visit then I'd be of better help.
gilget skardu and adjoining areas. get a map of northern areas trekking from PTDC or goggle it. if you are a fit person trek to nanga parbat base camp - priceless.
During the summers you can do that trek even if you aren't that fit. Once took an obese friend around all the base camps, took a lot of panting though, on his part
But seriously speaking, it's a very easy trek with zero technicality and very gradual gradients. During the winters, however, the snows make it a very different story.
What about in September? I need a list.
Would be difficult getting to the base camp if there is fresh snow, which there will be in Sept (the base camps receive snow even in the summers), but shouldn't be a problem reaching the View Point beyond Fairy Meadows.
Will swat and neelum be accessible around Christmas time?
What about Neelum Valley. Is it assessable ?
The main road going through Neelum would be open for most parts since the army's supplies also run the same way so they try to keep it open. The areas off the road will almost all be inaccessible which wouldn't make it worth it to go there. But Swat will be accessible, for most parts and times.
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this fucking trail to fair meadows was a killer for smokers,
Hahaha you amateur
How is the weather beginning of March? Was thinking of visiting Naran.
The snows in Naran by March would have begun to melt. Good time, with fresh vegetation ready to sprout. Just call a local hotel beforehand to get the real sit-rep. Only the places beyond Ballakot receive snow so you'll be good for most of the journey, for the rest if the snows are bad a local jeep will be enough to take you all the way.
You can drive to Skardu. This will help:
Welcome to HEAVEN ON EARTH .... SHANGRILA HOTELS AND RESORTS
I would suggest going in winters, but if you are going to Skardu in Winters, would suggest the aerial route, anything can happen via road, trust me. Plus you can visit many places in Skardu, as in Deosai. If you are planning to go to Gilgit, i would personally suggest coming in summers, much to see Fairy meadow, Hunza, Nagar, much to see.
Lala, push starting your car at 2 am in -20C while wearing a pair of jeans and a hoody over a tshirt as you stop feeling your extremities gradually only to then suddenly start feeling them again due to excruciating pain.....what's there not to like?
