Paldorak Pass

Elevation and difficulty: 4135 meters, given a 1A rating by the only climbing group to make a report on this pass. However, they crossed to one of the glaciers on the north side of the pass. They did not go through the rocky section where there is a trail. It’s probably a 1A rating on the rocks when the snow is melted, and a 1B when there is still snow.

Name: Paldorak is the village on the north side of the pass. The Russian/Ukrainian climbing team categorized this pass as “Paldorak Pass.“ But it is doubtful that this is its actual name, especially not on the north side. Locals almost never refer to a pass above their village with the same name as their village. However, locals in Ghorif may use this name.

Local use: highly detailed satellite imagery shows about 100-150 meters of trail on the north side of the pass, but none before or after (not all trails on rock are visible on satellite/aerial imagery). If locals were actively using this pass to graze livestock, then there would be very clear trails on the south side grass and an obvious shepherd camp on the south side. This pass is likely not being used anymore. Locals told the Budyansky group in 1992 (see link below) that donkeys can go through the pass, but that they rarely do.

Why use this pass? This is an alternative to the easier (and less scenic) Pakshif/Ghorif Pass. There are some very interesting glaciers nearby, and two small glacier lakes. Also, Paldorak looks like a bigger village than Pakshif, so I may be in Paldorak regardless, as it is more likely to have a village grocery shop.

We will hopefully provide an update in the future.

Reports: The Budyansky expedition of 1992. They referred to the main pass as Poldorak-1, and the climbers-only pass they went through (to the west) as Poldorak-2. The spelling difference is a mistake that Russian-speakers make when looking at the name Paldorak.

Last updated: September 2022

The Google Satellite 3D composite image (from the northwest) shows the trail (center of image between the two glaciers). If you are here before the snow melts from the trail, then crampons and an ice ax (at a minimum would be a good idea).