Diran Peak

The peak is called Minapin as well as Diran. It is situated in Rakaposhi and Haramosh mountain region near the Minapin, Hinarchi and Baultar glaciers and is easily accessible because of the Karakoram Highway. There is confusion about its height but now all agree that it is 7,273m/23,861ft. high.

It is one of the fascinating peaks that dominates the Gilgit valley and adds special colour to its otherwise rugged beauty.

A three-member Austrian expedition, which included Rainer Goschl, Rudolph Pischinger and Hanns Schell, decided to try its luck on Minapin in 1968 after being refused permission to climb Kampire Dior peak. It set up camp-1 at 4,800m/15,750ft. Big crevasses, inclement weather and deep snow is recorded between camps 1 and 2. It was from camp-3 that the party was able to reach the peak which it termed as a "big summit plateau."

The 1958 a British expedition to Diran peak failed to climb it from north-west face because its leader, E.G.C. Warr and a member, F.C. Hoyte, were struck by storm and disappeared when only 300 feet from the summit.

	Diran Peak

In 1959, a German Karakoram expedition, under the leadership of Hans Jochen Schneider, wanted to carry out a geological and geophysical survey in Batura glacier area. It was refused permission. Consequently, it turned its attention to Minapin Rakaposhi area. On the 9th June, one member, Erwin Stocker, and one porter reached a 18,000-feet-col situated to the north of Minapin. Subsequently, the party could reach a place which was less than one thousand feet short of north-west face of the summit.

In 1964, an Austrian expedition from Salzburg attempted to climb the peak from the north-west face but was unsuccessful because of bad weather and danger of avalanches. The party had only three climbers.

In 1965, a Japanese expedition of Kyoto Mountaineering Federation attempted to climb the peak. Earlier, in 1963 two of its members had reconnoitred the peak. The party was only 250ft from the summit on north-west face when it had to abandon the climb because of strong winds and whirring snow.

	I T I N E R A R Y
	Day 1 Arrive Islamabad. Overnight in hotel. Day 2 Briefing at the Ministry of Tourism. Meeting with LO (Liaison Officer). Day 3 12 hours drive to Chilas. Overnight in hotel. Day 4 4 hours drive to Gilgit. Overnight in hotel. Day 5 3 hours drive to Minapin. Overnight in hotel. Day 6 4 hours trek to Taghafari. Overnight in camps. Day 7 5-6 hours trek to Diran Peak basecamp. Overnight in camps. Day 8-48 Climb Diran Peak. No. of days depends on weather, fitness, and experience of the climbers. Day 49 Trek to Taghafiri. Overnight in camps. Day 50 Drive to Minapin. Overnight in hotel. Day 51 Drive to Gilgit. Overnight in hotel. Day 52 Drive to Chilas. Overnight in hotel. Day 53 Drive to Islamabad. Overnight in hotel. Day 54 De-briefing in the Ministry of Tourism. Day 55 Fly home.