Manaslu
is the high peak of the Gurkha massif, and is the eighth highest mountain in
the world, located about forty miles east of Annapurna, the 10th highest
mountain. The mountain's long ridges and valley glaciers offer feasible
approaches from all directions, and it culminates in a peak that towers
steeply above its surrounding landscape, and is a dominant feature when seen
from afar. The name Manaslu is derived from the Sanskrit word "Manasa"
and can be roughly translated as "Mountain of the Spirit".
Dhaulagiri First Attempts & Mountaineering Expeditions
In 1972,
fifteen members of a Korean expedition were killed at 22,800 feet when an
avalanche buried their camp. Two years later, the news from the mountain was
better: An all-female Japanese expedition successfully ascended to the
summit, thereby becoming the first women to climb an 8,000 meter peak.
In 1997 Charlie Mace made the first American ascent and since that time
only four other Americans have stood on Manaslu's summit. The route is of
moderate technical difficulty, but the true difficulty will be the grueling
nature of this remote peak. After an arduous trek to base camp the climber
will be faced with a circuitous route up a mountain infamous for heavy snow
accumulation. Avalanches and sheer exhaustion will be their major obstacles.
Other high peaks of the Gurkha massif include the following: