Friday, May 18, 2012

Makalu 8463 m (The fifth highest peak in the world)

Mt. Makalu is 20 km east of Everest in the Khumbu region and is the fifth highest peak in the world. The mountain lies in the Makalu Barun National Park, Sankhuwasava and is known for its perfect pyramid shape with four sharp ridges. North of the mountain lies Tibet and It has two notable subsidiary peaks. Kangchungtse , or Makalu II, 7678 lies in the Northwest of the main summit. The other is Chomo Lonzo which lies just north of the main peak.
                              Makalu was first climbed on 15th may 1955 by Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy, member of French expedition led by Jean Franco. Makalu is one of the harder eight thousanders  and considered as one of the most difficult mountain in the world to climb. The mountain has challenging steep pitches and knife white the final ascent of the summit pyramid involves technical rock climbing.
                                                  In 2006, a French mountaineer named Jeff Christophe Lafailee disappeared while trying to make first winter ascent. Makalu is only the 8000 m peak which has yet to be climbed during true winter conditions. The first Nepali to climb Makalu was  Ang Chepal Sherpa on 1st may 1978.

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