As early as 2005, we assisted several people from the Braldo Valley in founding a trekking agency. Until that time, there were only a few agencies in Baltistan, and none in the Braldo Valley, meaning that the organization of treks and expeditions was controlled by people who did not live in the area. The Baltis had to accept working as porters, as the agencies had their own cooks and guides. We took patronage over the agency, which is an important institution for many locals—not just for the income it generates, but also for its significant impact on self-confidence.
Shipton has now become a successful and highly respected agency. The manager, Mohammed Iqbal, comes from the village of Askole. His father was the legendary Haji Mahadi, who, as the village chief of Askole, supported early expeditions to the high mountains for decades (from 1960 to 1990) by arranging porters and supplies.
The Huber brothers, Thomas and Alexander, organized each of their expeditions through “Shipton,” as did top mountaineers David Lama and Hans-Jörg Auer. The American climber Jim Donini has also often travelled with Shipton.
