I started out hiking many years (like 2005) back as wanting to be part of the group. It started with hiking up to Half Dome. Which is measly about 16 miles round trip. But the training for the hike was as challenging and fun as the actual Day of Half Dome hike. Though during this time I had massive fear of heights so was unable to accomplish the cable section of the hike. Since then I have not looked back and kept going higher and further. As well as conquering my fear of heights and going up the cables in 2015 with my son almost 10 years later. But in between have done many more challenging and out of country treks.
Zabardast is a Picture Organic Clothing and Almo Film movie production. The film follows a team of freeriders and photographers on an expedition to the heart of Karakoram range. The search for one of the most beautiful mountains to ski on the planet, standing at 5880m. Over the five weeks, the crew pulled sleds filled with food, tents and solar panels over a 150km loop across gigantic glaciers. Full story below.
To access the incredibly remote face, one starts the approach on foot from the small Pakistani village of Askole, and then traverses the vast yet relatively little-known Nobande Sobande Glacier. The crew initially received help from Balti porters before heading off on a three-week self-sufficient adventure, pulling sleds full of freeze-dried food, tents and propane to melt snow, solar pa- nels for the camera equipment, sleeping bags, and mountaineering gear.
The many challenges included moving camp almost every day, acclimatizing to the high altitude, managing the batteries, gas, and food, dealing with the frigid nighttime temperatures and the extreme mental and physical fatigue, avoiding crevasses and avalanche hazards, and of course skiing beautiful, steep, and committing lines without any room for mistakes.
On top of that, the expedition set off to cross over the legendary and often complicated 5660m high Skam La Pass to reach the Sim Gang Glacier and the Snow Lake basin, one of the most beautiful places in the world. To return to Askole the crew slid down the entire Biafo Glacier, completing their 150km loop on foot and skis.
The experience proved a true adventure. Some of the group stayed in country afterwards to visit Islamabad, using different types of transportation to explore the real Pakistan. On old trains, sketchy motorbikes, and even on horseback, they escaped to the hills and lakes, camping in villages and meeting the locals.
or the last several years Thomas Delfino, a member of the Picture family since 2015, has stepped further and further away from the snowparks to spend more time in natural playgrounds, which are closer with his approach to the mountains.
Leo Taillefer, a part of the Picture Family for the last 3 years, rides every steep mountain face as if it was his last, exploring each to new peak to the maximum, and learning something new each and every day. He remembers,
For Zak Mills, who now lives in Mammoth Lakes, California, backcountry snowboarding has been a big part of his life for the last 5 years, taking him to some of the most amazing places on Earth, including the Karakoram Range in Pakistan.
Helias lives in Chamonix. He is a member of the International Association of Mont-Blanc Guides, has been mountaineering for the last 15 years, and has gone on more than 15 expeditions all over the world. He likes committing lines down technical, esthetic, big mountain faces, as well as long, continuous steeps.
Yannick has been mountaineering for over 20 years, and has climbed several 8000m peaks. He takes as pure an approach as possible when venturing into the Himalaya, forgoing both oxygen and fixed ropes.
Origionally from the southwest of France, Pierre is a cameraman, film editor, and drone pilot. He grew up with a passion for being behind the camera, as well as for the great outdoors, the ocean, surfing, and snowboarding. Today he combines his work and his favorite hobbies.
What was your own personal experience during the trip to Pakistan?
It was really hard physically for me, after having just recovered from an ACL tear. I lost 10 kilos in 3 weeks during the glacier traverse. However, I was expecting worse, so the experience overall went well for me, even though the trip did have its difficult moments.
In addition, meeting with such warm and friendly people, the culture, the language, the entire experience was simply fantastic! It was also great learning how to ride a motorcycle (without a helmet of course).
What made this trip so special and unique?
The remoteness of it all. I have never been so far from civilization. When we crossed Skam La Pass at 5660m elevation, we felt like we were the only people on the planet. In fact, if I had to summarize in just a few words our 3-week, completely self-sufficient experience at 5500m, I would say remoteness, adventure, and camaraderie. Never in my life have I experienced anything like it.
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