The slash in its name is the first thing you notice. On the Pakistan Online Visa System (NADRA) List of Peaks for Gilgit-Baltistan, snapshot dated 2026-08-26, this entry appears as “Masherbrum NE/K1”, listed at 7,821 metres. That height ties it exactly with Link Sar West and places it twelfth on the list. It also sits more than 600 metres above the other entries named Masherbrum, so the suffix is doing a lot of work.
This page explains what can and can’t be read from a name like NE/K1, places the entry among its Masherbrum namesakes and its height neighbours, and then turns to a planning skill that matters a great deal at nearly 7,800 metres: working patiently with weather windows. Peak facts are drawn only from the NADRA record and the live page. We don’t publish routes, grades, coordinates, fees or ascent history. Treat the suffix as part of the name, not as decoration.
Record summary
- Official entry: Masherbrum NE/K1
- Listed height: 7,821 m
- Shares that height with: Link Sar West
- Entries listed higher: 11
- Entries listed lower: 91
- Height class: seven-thousand-metre
- District, routes, coordinates: not given in the NADRA table
What a slash can and can’t tell you
“NE/K1” combines two labels. “NE” reads like a direction, and “K1” resembles the K-numbers that appear elsewhere on the official list, such as K-2, K-6 and K-7. It’s tempting to build a story from that: perhaps one label is descriptive and the other a survey designation. But the NADRA table offers no explanation, and we won’t invent one.
The practical lesson is simpler. A slash is easy to drop, mistype or replace with a hyphen. Treat “Masherbrum NE/K1” as a single, indivisible name. Don’t shorten it to “Masherbrum” or “K1” on any document, because both shorter forms could point somewhere else.
Masherbrum entries on the list
The official table contains three entries using the Masherbrum name:
| Entry | Listed height |
|---|---|
| Masherbrum NE/K1 | 7,821 m |
| Masherbrum | 7,170 m |
| Masherbrum (a second entry) | 7,163 m |
The two plain “Masherbrum” entries are listed 7 metres apart and more than 650 metres below NE/K1. How the three relate isn’t explained in the record. For your planning, the point is this: the suffix NE/K1 marks a different objective, in a different height bracket, from anything simply called Masherbrum.
The exact tie with Link Sar West
Link Sar West is also listed at 7,821 m. The two entries share nothing else in the record. If you ever see “7,821 m” on a document without a name, it could refer to either. Always quote name and height together.
Height neighbours
Other listed peaks within about sixty metres:
- Kunyang Chhis Main: 7,852 m
- Kunyang Khhish – E: 7,852 m
- Baltoro Kangri-IV: 7,800 m (21 m lower)
- Rakaposhi Domain: 7,788 m
- Rakaposhi – E: 7,788 m
- Batura-I: 7,785 m
- Batura – II: 7,762 m
- Kanjut Sar – I: 7,760 m
Baltoro Kangri-IV, 21 metres lower, is the nearest height that isn’t an exact tie.
Weather windows: the heart of the plan
At nearly 7,800 metres, the weather decides more than any other single factor whether a summit attempt goes ahead. Teams commonly wait at base camp, sometimes for days, for a spell calm and clear enough to climb high and return safely. Planning well for that waiting is a skill in its own right.
Build waiting into the schedule
Ask your operator how many spare days the plan contains, and treat them as essential rather than optional. A schedule with no slack forces teams into poor decisions: going up in marginal conditions because the flight home is booked.
Agree who reads the forecast
Decide in advance whose forecast the team relies on and who interprets it. Usually that is the operator or lead guide, using official advisories and whatever forecasting services they trust. Multiple conflicting opinions at base camp cause stress and confusion.
Define “good enough”
Before the expedition, talk about what conditions would justify a summit push, and what would rule it out. Wind, visibility, new snow and temperature all matter. A shared definition stops a few eager voices from talking the group into a risky attempt.
Know your last possible day
Work out, with your operator, the final date on which a summit attempt still leaves enough time for a safe descent and the journey home. Once that date passes, the summit is off. Writing it down at home, when nobody is under pressure, makes it far easier to accept on the mountain.
Using the waiting time well
Days at base camp can be productive:
- Rest properly; your body is still adapting.
- Eat and drink well to rebuild reserves.
- Check, dry and repair equipment.
- Rehearse summit-day routines so they’re automatic.
- Keep spirits up with books, games and conversation.
Teams that treat waiting as part of the expedition, rather than an interruption, tend to stay calmer and decide better.
When the window never comes
Sometimes the weather simply doesn’t cooperate. That’s a normal outcome on big mountains, not a failure. Leaving safely, with everyone healthy, is the result that matters most. Many climbers return to the same objective later with fresh plans and better luck.
Summit-day planning in outline
Even when a window arrives, the summit day itself needs a clear structure agreed in advance with your guide. Common elements include:
- A fixed start time chosen to give the most daylight for the descent.
- A firm turnaround time after which the team heads down regardless of position.
- Check-in points where the guide assesses each climber’s condition.
- Agreed signals for when someone needs to stop or descend.
- Reserve energy kept for the way down, where many accidents happen.
None of this is specific to Masherbrum NE/K1; the record gives no route details. It is simply the discipline that big-mountain teams rely on everywhere. Ask your operator how they structure summit days and make sure you understand the plan before you leave base camp.
Keeping morale steady while you wait
Long waits can wear people down. Keep in touch with home if communication is available, set small daily goals, and share the decision-making burden so that no one person carries all the pressure of choosing when to go.
Permits and registered operators
Masherbrum NE/K1 appears on the official list, so the formal steps apply:
- Engage a registered tour operator. Official FAQ answers say registered operators are listed through NADRA/DTS.
- Read our guide to applying for trekking and mountaineering permits, and quote the full name with its slash.
- Review the trekking and mountaineering regulations; licensed guides and porters are mandatory in restricted areas.
- Verify licences via our page on registering as a tour guide.
- Get current fees from the authorities directly.
Getting to Gilgit-Baltistan
The NADRA table doesn’t assign a district or give coordinates, so ask your operator to confirm the approach. The region is reached through Gilgit Airport or Skardu International Airport, or by road via the Karakoram Highway, Babusar Pass or Shandur Pass. More in our guide to getting to Gilgit-Baltistan.
Timing your trip
The record lists no season. Our page on the best time to visit Gilgit-Baltistan gives background; the final window should come from your operator and official weather advisories.
Packing
Begin with the official FAQ basics: warm clothes, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, a first-aid kit, a water bottle and energy bars. For a peak at this height, your operator’s technical list takes priority. See our packing guide. Bring entertainment for weather days.
Safety and conduct
Prepare for altitude illness, avalanche, crevasse, rockfall and severe weather. Tourist Police: 1422 within Gilgit-Baltistan, 05811-930055 from outside. Follow the camping regulations and photography restrictions, and pack out all waste.
Quick reference card
Before leaving, write a single card to carry in your jacket: “Masherbrum NE/K1, 7,821 m (NADRA List of Peaks, 2026-08-26)”, your operator’s name and number, your insurer’s emergency line, your agreed last summit date, and the Tourist Police numbers. In a stressful moment, having those facts in one place, spelled correctly, saves time for you and for anyone helping you.
Patience as a skill
Patience on a big mountain is not passive. It means resting deliberately, watching conditions closely, and staying ready to move quickly when the moment comes. Teams that master it give themselves the best chance of a safe attempt.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Masherbrum NE/K1?
The NADRA List of Peaks gives 7,821 metres in its 2026-08-26 snapshot.
Does any other peak share that height?
Yes, Link Sar West, also listed at 7,821 m.
Is it the same as Masherbrum?
No. The plain Masherbrum entries are listed at 7,170 m and 7,163 m, more than 650 m lower.
What does NE/K1 mean?
The official record doesn’t explain it. Use the name exactly as written.
Where does it rank?
11 listed peaks are higher and 91 are lower.
Which district is it in?
None is assigned in the NADRA table. Ask your operator and the permit authorities.
Are routes or grades listed?
No. The official entry doesn’t include them.
What is a weather window?
A spell of conditions stable enough for a team to climb high and descend safely. Big-mountain plans often hinge on waiting for one.
Is a permit required?
Yes. NADRA and Tourism Department/DTS processes apply to listed peaks.
Who do I contact in an emergency?
The Tourist Police: 1422 within Gilgit-Baltistan, or 05811-930055 from outside.
Source
List of Peaks (Gilgit-Baltistan) · Pakistan Online Visa System (NADRA) · Accessed 2026-08-26