Tirich Mir is the highest mountain of the Hindu Kush range, and the highest mountain in the world outside of the Himalayas-Karakoram range, located in ChitralDistrict of Pakistan. The mountain was first climbed on 21 July 1950 by a Norwegian expedition consisting of Arne Næss, P. Kvernberg, H. Berg, and Tony Streather. Tirich Mir overlooks Chitral town, and can be easily seen from the main bazaar. It is the closest mountain to Aconcagua which is higher than Aconcagua, and thus determines Aconcagua's topographic isolation. The last village in Chitral before reaching Tirich Mir is the village of Tirich. This valley begins at Soorwaht, where Terich River meets Torkhow River from the west, up to Shagrom- the last permanent settlement of the valley and from there onward there are summer grazing pastures and huts of shepherds up to the snout of lower Terich glacier and goes further up to Terich Concordia where glaciers from seven sub valleys slide down and join at the Concordia. The people there speak the Khowar language. The residents are available for hire as porters and tourist guides and will lead trekkers part way up the mountain, but there is a point beyond which they will not go. It is believed the origin of the name Tirich Mir is "King of Tirich" as Tirich is the name of a side valley of the Mulkhow valley of Chitral which leads up to Tirich Mir. An alternative etymology derives this name from the Wakhi language. In Wakhi, trich means shadow or darkness and mir means king, so Tirich Mir means king of darkness. It could have gotten this name as it creates long shadows on the Wakhan side of its face.
Climate
The weather stationabove sea level lies in the Tundra climate/Alpine climate zone according to Köppen Climate Classification. On this specific altitude we find moderately cold winters and cool summers generally above freezing. Annual mean temperature is, which puts the station well inside the range of continuous permafrost. The average temperature in the coldest month of January is and the two hottest months of July and August have mean temperatures of. Average low temperatures range from in January to in July and August.
