Four years ago, Laya Hoor took a walk through the village of Ghulmet, on the banks of the Hunza River. The craggy peaks of northern Pakistan’s mountain ranges rose around her on all sides, so high that they skimmed the clouds drifting by.
Several wooden spoons and forks are perched on a table as Fatima puts the finishing touches on another one. Around her, other carpenters are carving signs, measuring material, and smoothing out large pieces of wood for new projects.
For these young climbers, reaching the top of the ice fall isn’t just about personal achievement – succeeding as a mountaineer means unlocking new opportunities in a region where a steady income can be hard to come by.
Meet Mahayuddin and Aftar Gul, a remarkable duo changing lives in northern Pakistan.
