The road tracklog 
from Gilgit to Shandur, then back to Gilgit
from 26/06 to 02/07/2007 

The 26/06 I left the lawn of the PTDC to go up the Gilgit River valley where the old kingdoms of Punial and Ghizar existed. It is populated with a mosaic of ethnos groups to more than 80% Ismaili. Prince Karim Aga Khan, 49ième Imam of the sect Ismaili Shiite, renovated the religious practice considerably and set up institutions, schools, dispensaries etc to improve the everyday life of this community scattered in the East and Asia.
The narrow valley is occupied by pieces of wheat culture. The road follows the stream of the river. The roadway has a good surface quality; however it is not very broad. Beyond Gupis I looked for a campsite, of course in mountain flat places are not large. I determined to stop me on the platform of a school where a young boy speaking in altogether comprehensible English helped me to install my truck. Then around 07:00 pm he brought to me a plate with two small fish and radishes, Pakistani hospitality. In spite of altitude, 2350m high, the temperature was in the day of approximately 36°C and the night of 24°C.

The 27/06 as of 07:30 am boys and girls arrived at school. Two adults, one proves to be the principal of the school and the other an employee of the Aga Khan Health Centre, came towards me. We spoke of various subjects during more than one hour. I promised to them to have a campsite on the carpark of the school at my return. My interlocutors are Ismaili.
The road is asphalted beyond Phander, the last 38 kilometres towards Shandur are out of ground. A Natco’s bus runs the way from Gilgil to Chitral. The polo ground of the festival of the meetings between the teams of Gilgit and Chitral is at the altitude of 3705 high, given by GPS. I found an light inclined bivouac at the edge of the lake. My objective was to spend there three days of rest before the return to Gilgit. Shandur pass is at some kilometres.

The 01 and the 02/07 I went again to Gilgit with a bivouac to Dahimal on the platform of the school to meet the local person in charge for Aga Khan Health Centre.
At my return the valley appeared even more beautiful to me, the road of good quality curving along the river, the villages without refuse and the population greeting me at my passage. Everywhere panels announce, Aga Khan Health Centre, Aga Khan Diamond Jubilee School,… It receives, without doubt, an important financing from the Aga Khan Foundation.