MONMOUTH School has just returned from its sixth Pakistan Expedition, again with pupils from Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls, and for the first time pupils from Rougemont School, near Newport.

As usual, the expedition arrangements were made by the Adventure Foundation Pakistan (AFP), an experienced and respected Outward Bound body in Pakistan, which now runs some 500 courses of all kinds in Pakistan.

This time there had been a difference in that a 20 strong party had come from the City school, Lahore, in conjunction with the Adventure Foundation (Pakistan) in July to stay at Monmouth School and host families, according to a programme devised by David Owens, Head of CDT at Monmouth School, and a veteran Explorer of the Western Himalayas. The visit, involving canoeing, sailing, trekking, and a visit to London and the Millennium Dome had been a great success.

The Monmouth party, consisting of four Leaders and 15 Sixth Formers travelled out to Pakistan from Heathrow to Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, by PIA, the state airline.

After an eight-hour flight, at a crowded airport, the party was met by AFP staff and bussed to the Training HQ at Abbottbad three hours' away.

The following morning, with only the briefest of stops at the AFP supported SOS Village for orphan children on the way, where there is a memorial to the late Anthony Haskew, a Monmouth lad on the 1994 expedition, the party had to brace themselves for a 12-hour journey up the formidable Karakoram Highway, which snakes its way up the Indus Gorge.

Below the narrow road lie frightening drops reaching down to the tumbling river hundreds of feet below. Not for the likes of parents or the faint-hearted! Fortunately, used to these conditions, the bus drivers skilfully brought the party to their overnight stay at Chilas, with temperatures in the 90sF!

Next day the journey continued by jeeps all day long on winding roads around the western extremes of the Himalayas to Trashing from where the first objective would start, a climb up to the Nanga Parbat Base Camp on the eastern side. The plan was to have a hard trek up hill to the Base Camp and then do further exploration.

The weather was good and all went well. A group of porters did sterling work carrying supplies and the party coped well with increased altitude, going up to 12,000 ft. Magnificent views could be glimpsed of the summit, covered in snow at over 27,000 ft and one of the hardest mountains to climb in the world, only achieved in l954, and only once climbed from this eastern side.

The descent was then made in very wet weather, which was to badly disrupt communications across the Sub-Continent. Luckily, though soaked through, the party was able to stay overnight in a rickety wooden structure, which was in the process of becoming a hotel. At least, it provided a refuge from the heavy rain.

The next stage of the expedition involved jeep riding onto the Deosai Plateau, a huge wilderness area at 14,000 ft where the party camped for three days and did various day treks. Temperatures by day were fine and very hot but at night it was a different story. Nights were at or below freezing! But the setting was marvellous, broad valleys covered in a carpet of Alpine flowers, a multitude of birds, marmots calling, and distant snow-capped mountains.

One trek involved going out to a far off secret valley to view Himalayan mountain bears and another to fish for snow trout in mountain streams. The party continued to keep well and there was little illness.

The expedition drew to a close with a two-day jeep ride to Skardu, the most easterly town of the Northern Areas, which is close to the greatest mountains of all, including K2, whose Base Camp was the objective of the successful Monmouth 1998 Expedition.

A night was spent close to the heavenly, sky blue Satpura Lake where a boat trip was undertaken. Once Skardu was reached, hotel accommodation and hot water were very welcome, as well as warmer temperatures. The group had done well to manage the trekking, the altitude, and the variable weather.

The next stage of the programme involved jeep and coach travel south for three days to reach Lahore where the party was re-united with the Pakistani Group that had come to Monmouth in July.

Hosting was done in families and an enjoyable time was had exploring the ancient Mogul capital of India, now the cultural capital of Pakistan, looking at the Fort and ancient Mosque, shopping in bazaars, and attending a reception. The crowded roads amazed everyone, especially when whole families, Dad, Mum, and up to four children would travel together on a small family motorbike!

Finally, on Independence Day, 14th August, the party travelled back to Islamabad on a deserted motorway to for a final reception, speeches, and exchange of gifts. It had once again been an excellent visit, made better this time by being an exchange.

On Tuesday 15th August the group returned safely to Heathrow and once again Monmouth had confirmed its position as the leading School in the world for exploration of the western Himalayas and the Karakoram Mountains.

For the young people, there was a sense of achievement in beginning to tackle one of the world's greatest mountains and who knows, beginning a ]lifetime of exploring distant parts of the planet. Hopefully, there will be an exchange and expedition in 2002 and interested enquires may be made to Dr Roz Jennings at Monmouth School.

Rev Norman Morris, leader of six expeditions and now in Shropshire parishes, would be interested to hear of fit "Golden Oldies" who might like to do a possible Pakistan trek in the future!

The 2000 Pakistan party's Leaders included Rev Norman Morris, former Monmouth School Chaplain, Dr Roz Jennings of Monmouth School, Mr Hugh Marsden, Head of PE, Rougemont School, and Dr Alex Allwood, a Paediatrician from Plymouth and experienced Mountain Doctor. Venturers from Monmouth Schools included Simon Anderson from Raglan, Alex Cave, Gareth Price, and Nick Jones from Chepstow, James Frecknall from Walford, Ross-on Wye, Beth Widerspin from St Briavels, Andrew Legg and Ben Tibbetts from Hereford, Emma Barter and Gemma Roberts from Monmouth, Neesha Suchak from Crickhowell, and from Rougemont, William Gibbs from Newport, Rachel Sumner from New Inn, Melissa Thomas from Llanbedr, and Harry Thurman from Usk.

The group's thanks are extended to the Schools, the Company of Haberdashers, and to PIA for their support for this expedition.