Mitre Peak is a 6,010-metre mountain beside Concordia in the Karakoram, at the point where the Baltoro Glacier splits towards K2 and the Gasherbrums. It has been climbed once, in 1980, by the Italian-French mountaineer Ivano Ghirardini. There is no road to it: the only way for a non-climber to see it is to trek up the Baltoro Glacier.
Do not confuse it with the Mitre Peak in New Zealand's Milford Sound, which is a far lower mountain and a very different place. This guide is about the Pakistani peak.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Height | About 6,010 m (some sources 6,013 m, a few up to 6,025 m) |
| Location | Baltoro Muztagh, beside Concordia, Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Prominence | About 725 m |
| Ascents | One, in June 1980 |
| Nearest place to see it | Concordia, on the K2 Base Camp trek |
| Nearest town | Skardu, then Askole as the trailhead |
How high is Mitre Peak?
Most sources give 6,010 metres, some 6,013, and a few list it at 6,025. That range is not a mistake so much as a reflection of how difficult it is to survey a mountain with no easy access. By Karakoram standards it is modest: Broad Peak, which it faces across the glacier, and K2 are both well over 8,000 metres. It looks impressive anyway because it stands right at the confluence of glaciers, with a steep, pointed profile.
The 1980 ascent and why nobody has repeated it
Ivano Ghirardini climbed it solo on 2 June 1980, in about three days from base camp, by a couloir on the right-hand side of the peak. His wife, Marie Jeanne, travelled with him but did not climb. He carried very little: two ropes, some pitons and about 15 kg of food and gear. The route had poor rock, avalanche danger and steep mixed ground, with 65-degree snow and ice.
More than four decades on, it remains unrepeated. A Polish team attempted it in 2020. The reasons are the difficulty and the objective hazard, together with the remoteness: reaching the base takes days of glacier walking before the climb starts.
Where can a non-climber see Mitre Peak?
Only on the Baltoro. The peak stands beside Concordia, the meeting point of the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers, and trekking operators describe it as one of the peaks that frames Concordia along with Chogolisa. It is also visible in the photographs and on the horizon on the K2 Base Camp trek.
The trek is not a casual excursion:
- It starts at Askole, reached by a long jeep drive from Skardu. See our Skardu to Askole guide.
- The full trek to K2 Base Camp and back is 20 to 21 days including rest and weather days, with about 14 of them walking, and it is graded strenuous. Concordia sits at roughly 4,700 metres.
- The season is short, with June and July the months operators most often quote.
- A permit and a registered operator are required. See our guide to trekking permits in Gilgit-Baltistan. Fees vary by source and year, so ask your operator for the current figures.
Our guides to Concordia, the Baltoro Glacier and the K2 Base Camp trek cover the route in detail.
What else stands around it at Concordia?
Operators often call Concordia the "Throne Room of the Mountain Gods". Gasherbrum IV, Chogolisa, Broad Peak and Mitre Peak stand around it, with K2 at the head of the Godwin-Austen branch. The whole K2 trek covers about 150 kilometres, of which roughly 90 are from Askole to K2 Base Camp, so the mountains take days to appear and then stay in view for days.
Is there an easier way to see the big mountains?
Yes. If you cannot commit three weeks, other views of the Karakoram from Skardu need far less time. There are day trips and viewpoints around Skardu, and our Skardu page lists the places to start. None of these show Mitre Peak, which lies deep in the Baltoro region.
Who should go to see it?
Trek to Concordia only if you are fit, comfortable camping for weeks and prepared for altitude. It is not right for casual visitors, people with heart or lung conditions or anyone unable to leave a group that becomes ill. If you want mountains without the commitment, the views from Skardu and the Shigar valley are a more sensible choice. Read our note on altitude sickness in Gilgit-Baltistan before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Mitre Peak?
About 6,010 metres. Some sources give 6,013 or 6,025 metres.
Who climbed Mitre Peak?
Ivano Ghirardini, an Italian-French climber, on 2 June 1980. It is still the only recorded ascent.
Where is Mitre Peak?
In the Karakoram of Gilgit-Baltistan, next to Concordia on the Baltoro Glacier.
Can I see Mitre Peak without trekking?
No. It cannot be seen from Skardu or any road, only from the Baltoro Glacier region, which means a multi-week trek.
Is it the same as Mitre Peak in New Zealand?
No. The New Zealand peak is in Milford Sound and is a different, much lower mountain.
