Snow Lake
Better than Antarctica
Trips coming soon0 rating
At an altitude of 4700m, Lukpe Lawo (local name) is a flat bowl of ice and mother of many large and small glaciers like Biafo, Hispar, Sim Gang, Choktoi and Panmah. With an area of 77 sq km, its a vast snowy space, without any hint of vegetation. Coiling out from Snow Lake - smooth glaciers writhe between gigantic 7000m peaks. The highest peak due up east the Sim Gang Glacier is Ogre or Baintha Brak 7285m and granite tower of Sosbun Brak 6413 m in north. Ideal time to for this trek is from Mid May till End of September. The name Snow Lake was given in 1892 by W Martin Conway, the first foreign visitor of Karakoram. Snow Lake trek is done via famous Hispar-Biafo Glaciers that combined makes the 116 km largest glacier system outside polar region over the Hispar Pass 5151m. Other famous alternate is Khurdopin Pass (5790m) which is rather technical and connects Baltistan to Shimshal over the crevassed Khurdopin Glacier 41km.
Four chapters
Best Time to Visit
spring
April – May
Poor timeBiafo-Hispar traverse snowbound at 4,900m — glacier still fractured, expeditions rarely attempt this window.
summer
June – August
Best timeThe only viable expedition window — long days, stable weather over the Biafo, Hispar and Snow Lake plateau.
autumn
September
ShoulderColder nights and first snow arrive — late-season teams still get clear days but weather turns fast.
winter
October – March
Poor timeDeep snow shuts the traverse — glacier crevasses, storms and no viable approach until late June.