Baltistan bonds. The states were subjugated by the Dogra rulers of Kashmir during the 19th century. On 29 August 2009 the government of Pakistan announced the creation of Gilgit–Baltistan, a provincial autonomous region with Gilgit as its capital and Skardu its largest city. Baltistan was known as Little Tibet, and the name was extended to include Ladakh. Ladakh later became known as Great Tibet. Locally, Baltistan is known as "Baltiyul" and Ladakh and Baltistan are known as Maryul ("red country"). Today, the people of Kharmang and Western Khaplu have Tibetan features and those in Skardu, Shigar and the eastern villages of
1939 American Karakoram expedition to K2 eight-thousand-metre mountain and would have succeeded without bottled oxygen. There would have been no recriminations. 1939 American Karakoram expedition to K2 The unsuccessful 1939 American Karakoram expedition to K2 was the second U.S. attempt on the second-highest mountain in the world, following the 1938 reconnaissance expedition. Fritz Wiessner, the leader of the expedition, and Pasang Dawa Lama got to within of the summit of K2 via the Abruzzi Ridge – a difficult and arduous route – with Wiessner doing practically all the lead climbing. Through a series of mishaps one of the team members, Dudley Wolfe, was left stranded near