Known to generations of climbers from the trek in to the Baltoro Glacier between K-2 and Mashebrum, the Braldu was one of the first whitewater rivers attempted in Pakistan by Mike Jones in his fatal 1978 attempt. It is still one of the most difficult: remote, technical class 5-6, locked with in vertical canyon walls, and highly weather dependent.

The Braldu is fed by the largest complex of mountains glaciers in the world. From the moments the spring melt begins in May, its narrow gorge is filled with completely unrunnable thousands of cfs. It can only be reasonably approached during the off season.