Flames And Arrows
Page 13
One of the first things that Lt. Shubharanjan had noticed about the peak was the time required for travel to the post on the mountain top from army base camp just on the foot-hills. First time he traveled, it took him more than 5 hours to climb the nearly 6000m high mountain. At many places the path was no more than a small mule trail, which afforded barely enough foot-hold for a loaded mule to pass through. Iron chains and ropes were nailed in at many places to provide a hand hold for the men. Anybody slipping at any such place was sure to die a quick yet gruesome death on the hard rocks hundreds of meters below. Getting down from the top was as difficult as going up, in some places more difficult due to the loose rock and gravel. Mules and porters carried much of the supplies above, with an occasional chopper pitching in whenever available.
Conditions on Pakistani side were much easier though. The peak was more like a gentle slope, albeit littered with large rocks, which extended many km down in to the Pakistani side. It also took much less time to travel and getting men and supplies, to the top, were much easier and safer. They could have very well constructed a road if it was not for Indians controlling the peak.