Manaslu
Manaslu (also known as Kutang) is the eighth highest
mountain in the world, located in the Mansiri Himal, part of the Nepalese
Himalayas. Manaslu is derived from the Sanskrit word Manasa and is translated
as "Mountain of the Spirit".
Manaslu is the highest peak in the Gurkha massif and is
located about forty miles east of Annapurna, the tenth highest mountain. The
mountain's long ridges and valley glaciers offer feasible approaches from all
directions, and culminate in a peak that towers steeply above its surrounding
landscape, and is a dominant feature when viewed from afar.
Manaslu was first climbed on May 9, 1956 by Toshio Imanishi
and Gyalzen Norbu, members of a Japanese expedition.
Trekkers and climbers need extensive experience before
taking to the slopes of Manaslu. It is a mountain in Nepal that is known to be
dangerous, and due to its remote and secluded location, rescue operations are
hampered should anything go wrong.Manaslu Mountain on Sunrise
The beauty and magnificence of the Manaslu Mountain and
surrounding region was hidden from the world for many years, due to the
restrictions on this region. Even though foreigners are now allowed to venture
into this area, with a permit, many travelers and mountain climbers are still
unaware of this fact of natural treasure and the splendor of its landscape.
Timeline
1950 H.W. Tilman made a reconnaissance of Manaslu and
believed there was a potential route to the top via the northeast.
1952 Japanese reconnaissance party reached 5275 m/17,300' on
the east side.
1953 First attempt made by a Japanese team of 15 climbers to
summit via the Northeast face. Three climbers made a summit attempt reaching
7750 m/25,425' before turning back.
1956 First ascent, by T. Imanishi (Japan) and Gyalzen Norbu
(Sherpa).
1971 On May 17, Kazuharu Kohara and Motoki, part of an 11
man Japanese team, reached the summit via the NW spur.
1971 Kim Ho-Sup led a Korean expedition attempt via the
Northeast. Kim Ki-Sup fell to his death on May 4.
1972 An Austrian expedition led by Wolfgang Nairz made the
first ascent via the SW face.
1972 Koreans attempt the Northeast Face route. On April 10,
an avalanche buried their camp at 6,500 m (21,300 ft), killing 15 climbers
including 10 Sherpas, the Korean expedition leader Kim Ho-sup,[1] and Kazunari
Yasuhisa from Japan.
1973 On April 22, Gerhard Schmatz, Gerhard, Sigi Hupfauer
and a Sherpa climber reached the summit via the Northeast face.
1974 On May 4, an all female Japanese expedition makes the
summit, becoming the first women to climb an 8,000 metre peak. One climber died
on May 5 when she fell between camps 4 and 5.
1975 On April 26, Gerald Garcia, Jeronimo Lopez and Sonam
Sherpa of a Spanish expedition summit via the Northeast face.
1984 On January 14, Maciej Berbeka and Ryszard Gajewski of a
Polish expedition made a first winter ascent via the normal route
1997 Charlie Mace makes the first American ascent.
2002 On May 13, five Americans and two Sherpas reach the
summit. See the 2002 American Manaslu Expedition.
2006 On May 29, Australian mountaineer Sue Fear died after
falling into a crevasse on her descent after summitting. She was a friend of mountaineer
Lincoln Hall, who survived a night exposed near Everest's summit.
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