K2 GGL trekking: Khuispang - Saitcho

Yesterday's digestive issues seem to have worsened, and the enthusiasm for another long day of hiking hovers somewhere around freezing point for me. Especially knowing that, once again, I'll be traversing hours of rocky terrain at the beginning of the day. The only motivation to start this day is the stunning green valley of Hushe, a stark contrast to the mountainous desert landscape of the Baltoro Glacier.

However, the day begins again with rocky terrain. The only positive aspect I find in this is that it's mostly downhill rather than uphill. Khuispang is situated at an altitude of 4700 meters, and today involves a descent of a whopping 1300 meters. Though this is certainly not a short walk, covering almost eighteen kilometers, this route does not demand significant physical exertion. My digestive issues disagree, as the pace across the rock fields is painfully slow for me. There's a bit of variety with sections where I can walk over a glacier, but it takes me 3.5 hours to cover the first six kilometers.

To my great relief, this marks the definitive end of rocks and the like, and I'm greeted with a green valley. The valley somewhat reminds me of the Alta Via I, where I also witnessed beautiful green valleys, but here, it's a bit more dramatic with an enormous mountain wall on the left side and a dramatic glacier on the right. This is a landscape you won't easily find elsewhere. In this valley, there are goats, sheep, cows, and even a few free-roaming horses.

During the break, I enjoy the soup, and against my better judgment, I let myself be convinced to devour a second bowl of soup. That turns out to be a mistake because the contents of the soup promptly come out in the opposite direction when I start vomiting. Not a pleasant sight, but perhaps useful since I now have an empty stomach, making me a bit more vital for the rest of the hike.

The remainder of the hike is mostly tranquil, but at regular intervals, there's a spot where I have to perform daring feats to cross a waterfall or river. If not that, then it's a zigzagging path consisting of loose gravel, suddenly descending a hundred meters in a very steep manner. I've become accustomed to such things by now, and with great caution, I descend or cross the waterfall or river. Although towards the end of the day, especially after yesterday's thirteen-hour hike, it starts to feel quite long, I continue to enjoy this day due to the exceptionally beautiful landscape. When I reach Saitcho, all the hardship of the day is forgotten, and I reflect on what might be the most beautiful day of the entire trek.