Gasherbrum

Gasherbrum is a mountain massif in the Karakoram range, located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. It lies in the remote Baltistan area near the Baltoro Glacier, close to K2, and forms part of the broader Gasherbrum group. The massif includes several high summits, the best known of which are Gasherbrum I (also called Hidden Peak) at 8,080 metres and Gasherbrum II at 8,035 metres, both among the world’s highest peaks. The name Gasherbrum comes from the Balti language, with folk interpretations that it means things like “beautiful mountain” or “shine of the peak,” though exact etymology is uncertain.

Historically, the two highest peaks were among the last eight-thousanders to be climbed, with first ascents achieved in the mid-to-late 1950s by Austrian mountaineering expeditions. In the early years the peaks were sometimes referred to by expedition designations K4 and K5. Since then, the Gasherbrum massif has seen additional climbing routes and increased mountaineering activity, though the area remains remote and technically demanding due to altitude, weather, and ice.

Geographically, Gasherbrum is part of the Karakoram core of Central Asia and is associated with the high-altitude glaciated terrain that characterizes the region. The massif is a notable component of Pakistan’s high mountain landscape and a frequent objective for experienced climbers exploring the Karakoram.