Makalu
| Makalu | |
|---|---|
Makalu from the southwest
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,485 m (27,838 ft) Ranked 5th |
| Prominence | 2,386 m (7,828 ft) |
| Isolation | 17 kilometres (11 mi) |
| Listing |
Eight-thousander Ultra |
| Coordinates | 27°53′21″N 87°05′19″E / 27.88917°N 87.08861°ECoordinates: 27°53′21″N 87°05′19″E / 27.88917°N 87.08861°E |
| Geography | |
 Makalu
Makalu
Location in Nepal and Tibet
|
|
| Location | Khumbu, Nepal / Tibet, China |
| Parent range | Mahalangur Himalaya |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | May 15, 1955 by Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy |
| Easiest route | snow/ice climb |
Makalu (Nepal: मकालु; China: Makaru) is the fifth highest mountain in the world at 8,485 metres (27,838 ft). It is located in the Mahalangur Himalayas 19 km (12 mi) southeast of Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and China. One of the eight-thousanders, Makalu is an isolated peak whose shape is a four-sided pyramid.
Makalu has two notable subsidiary peaks. Kangchungtse, or Makalu II (7,678 m) lies about 3 km (2 mi) north-northwest of the main summit. Rising about 5 km (3.1 mi) north-northeast of the main summit across a broad plateau, and connected to Kangchungtse by a narrow, 7,200 m saddle, is Chomo Lonzo (7,804 m).
The first climb on Makalu was made by an American team led by William Siri in the spring of 1954. The expedition was composed of Sierra Club members including Allen Steck, and was called the California Himalayan Expedition to Makalu. They attempted the southeast ridge but were turned back at 7,100 m (23,300 ft) by a constant barrage of storms. A New Zealand team including Sir Edmund Hillary was also active in the spring, but did not get very high due to injury and illness. In the fall of 1954, a French reconnaissance expedition made the first ascents of the subsidiary summits Kangchungtse (October 22: Jean Franco, Lionel Terray, Sardar Gyaltsen Norbu and Pa Norbu) and Chomo Lonzo (October 30(?): Jean Couzy and Terray).
Makalu was first climbed on May 15, 1955 by Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy of a French expedition led by Jean Franco. Franco, G. Magnone and Sardar Gyaltsen Norbu summitted the next day, followed by Bouvier, S. Coupe, Leroux and A. Vialatte on the 17th. This was an amazing achievement at the time to have the vast majority of expedition members summit, especially on such a difficult peak. Prior to this time, summits were reached by 1-2 people at most with the rest of teams providing logistical support before turning around and heading home. The French team climbed Makalu by the north face and northeast ridge, via the saddle between Makalu and Kangchungtse (the Makalu-La), establishing the standard route.
...
Wikipedia