Chilinji Pass Trek

Chilinji Pass Trek

Chilinji Pass, standing tall at an altitude of 5140 meters, serves as a rugged connection between the remote Chapursan Valley in Upper Gojal and the stunning landscapes of Ishkoman Valley in Ghizer. Our interest in Chilinji began back in 2009 when we first heard about this high-altitude pass through a fellow traveler, Ahmed Mujtaba. Inspired, we planned to attempt it from the Ishkoman side after journeying through Broghil and Karomber Lake. Upon reaching Swinj, we approached the local Gujjars to hire porters for the crossing. To our surprise, they unanimously declined, citing the extreme difficulty of the route. Disheartened but respectful of their concerns, we dropped the idea at the time. Looking back now—after finally crossing the pass from the Chapursan side and facing its challenging crevasses and scree slopes—we realize how fortunate we were. Attempting the pass in 2009 without proper gear or technical experience could have ended disastrously. The ascent from the Ishkoman side, in particular, is brutally steep and unforgiving. In the years that followed, the region beyond Baba Ghundi became off-limits due to its proximity to the Afghan border. Then, just last year, we heard of two teams that had successfully made it across. That rekindled our ambition, and we began preparing in earnest. Originally, my goal for this year was a trek across the Central Asian states, but when that plan didn’t materialize, Chilinji became the clear and deserving choice. It took seven years of waiting, planning, and dreaming—but we finally stood atop the Chilinji Pass.