A mountaineer who fell in love with Bahrain during a solo cycling journey across the GCC has paid a glorious tribute to the kingdom by raising its red and white flag at the Baltoro Glacier Gora Two peak in Pakistan.
Pakistani national Saqib Rahman also held a portrait of His Majesty King Hamad atop the peak as a heartfelt gesture of gratitude and respect to the country.
Gora Two is a camp or resting point on the Baltoro Glacier, which is the longest of its kind in Pakistan. It is situated at an elevation of approximately 4,285 meters (14,058 feet) and serves as a staging point for trekkers and climbers on their way to Concordia and K2 Base Camp, offering views of surrounding peaks like Masherbrum and Broad Peak.
The trekkers holding Bahrain and Pakistan flags
“It was an incredible feeling to raise Bahrain’s flag and hold His Majesty’s picture atop the peak,” said Mr Rahman.
The 29-year-old, who made a pitstop in Bahrain in March this year during a three-month cycling expedition from Pakistan, told the GDN that he was deeply moved by the warmth and generosity of the people in Bahrain and wanted to dedicate his latest expedition to the kingdom.
“I was joined by four fellow climbers – two of whom also dedicated their ascent to Bahrain, while the other two marked the achievement in honour of Pakistan’s recently-celebrated Independence Day,” he said.
“There were a few challenges along the way, including battling frostbite in the freezing temperatures, but staying positive and having the support of other climbers kept my spirits high.
“I have completed several other hikes before and those past experiences also helped me overcome the challenges I encountered.”
Mr Rahman with his bike, holding Bahrain and Pakistan flag
Temperatures on Baltoro Glacier vary during morning and evening and can even potentially drop to around -6 degrees or below at higher elevations.
The mountain expedition, which took Mr Rahman and his friends around two weeks to complete, was a highly strenuous and challenging trek requiring significant physical fitness, acclimatisation to high altitudes and experience in rugged terrain.
“I was inspired to do this after my recent trip to Bahrain, as part of a cycling tour from Pakistan,” he said, adding that he made his way to Iran and then took a ship to Dubai before arriving in the kingdom.
Mr Rahman, who sells toys for a living, spent around 25 days cycling across Iran. He has undertaken similar trips across the GCC before but visited Bahrain for the first time in March.
Mr Rahman on top of the peak holding Bahrain flag
“From Dubai, I went to Saudi Arabia and then to Bahrain. The entire journey took around three months, but it was during my time in Bahrain that I connected with fellow Pakistanis in the kingdom,” he said.
“I received such warm hospitality and I felt a lot of respect, so I wanted to do something in their honour.”
He hopes to return to the kingdom in December and raise a 100-foot-tall flag during Bahrain’s National Day celebrations.
“If we get permission from the kingdom’s authorities, I would be honoured to carry out this mission as another gesture of my respect to the country,” he added.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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