Manaslu Nepal 8156m

Background:

A true Himalayan expedition to an exceptionally striking mountain.

Manaslu is the 8th highest mountain in world. Its name is derived from Sanskrit and can be translated to mean 'the mountain of soul or intellect'. It was first climbed by a Japanese expedition in 1956 by what is now considered the normal route. The fact that its second ascent did not occur until 1971 lends testimony to the fact that it is well off the usual expedition routes.

Manaslu received relatively few visitors until about 5 years ago when commercial companies began to look for alternative objectives to Cho Oyu as access issues has made it problematic to operate on this mountain.

From Kathmandu we set off early on a bus packed not only with us and our gear but with our entire mountain crew. The journey is fun as we stop often for refreshments and get a chance to get to know the Sherpa team who will be helping us on our ascent of the mountain. The Sherpa crew we use for our climbing programs is nothing short of phenomenal and you may well find yourself sitting next to a very humble quiet man who has none-the-less been to the summit of Mount Everest 10 times.

The trekking begins in earnest in the low, flat and sweaty foothills of the Nepali Himalayas. A start which will feel miles away from the mountain experience you have come to expect on previous ventures to high Asian or Andean mountains. We wander through lush green paddy fields and say hello to the curious locals we encounter working the fields. During the hottest part of the day we'll stop and rest under pipal and banyan trees or have a snack and some tea in a local tea-house. The walk takes us through many local villages: Arughat, Soti Khola, Korsani Khola, Machha Khola and Lapuabesi, continuously we get glimpses of those white giants on the horizon, their white summits experiencing conditions radically different from where we are now.

Gradually the country changes; as we gain altitude the broad river valley we have followed narrows and the trail begins to cut into the sides of the steep valley sides. The Rhododendron forest gets denser and at times the trail is cut into the steep valley side. The local farmers no longer have the luxury of flat ground but are using generations-old terraces to grow crops on.

At length we reach the base camp of Manaslu. The Sherpas being the masters of altitude have already gone ahead of us and built a camp-site that will be our home for the next few weeks. Above us towers the huge bulk of the mountain we have come to climb. We take a few days rest to acclimatise to the current altitude and to devise our strategy as to how to best climb this fantastic objective for the given conditions and the dynamics of the group.

Once at base camp (4,800m) the work begins: Manaslu is a huge mountain and cannot be underestimated. But in comparison to other 8,000m peaks Manaslu's normal route has only moderate technical terrain. Being slightly harder than Cho Oyu and Shishapangma, this mountain makes for an ideal first expedition to 8,000m.

From base camp we start the process of tackling this peak. Traditionally there are 3 camps above base camp (C1 at 5,500m, C2 at 6,300m and C3 at 7,300m). Depending on progress an intermediate camp can be placed between C2 and C3 at 6,700m. The terrain encountered on the ascents varies from glacier crossings to steep snow steps and requires a good understanding of basic alpine climbing techniques. Manaslu has been climbed Alpine style but we enhance our success rate by using expedition style climbing methods and an extremely strong Sherpa team for logistical support.

An expedition to Manaslu will provide the climber with a huge amount of experience for further expeditions of this nature and is considered better training for Mount Everest than the popular 'easy' 8,000m peaks.

Experience required:

In order to give yourself the best possible chance to summit Manaslu, being in peak physical condition is essential. The training regime before setting out on this expedition should have been focused on cardiovascular exercise and resulted in sufficient stamina to endure long days carrying big loads. A thorough grounding in mountaineering techniques and previous expedition experience is a basic prerequisite. Having been on a 6,000m expedition, particularly Aconcagua or Denali, is a basic prerequisite. Having strong determination to summit and a willingness to work within a small team will greatly enhance your success in reaching the summit.

Please contact the 360 Expeditions office for a comprehensive fitness plan designed by our guides and doctors.

Expedition support:

360 Expeditions has a long and successful relationship with our Nepali crews. We have scaled Mount Everest as well as many other smaller summits in Nepal with them and have become very good friends in the process. Our hand-picked crew are not only personal friends but have a climbing record that would be the envy of many western climbers. Many of our crew will have multiple Mount Everest summits and have reached the summits of other 8,000m peaks. It would be hard to imagine a stronger support team.

Typical Manaslu Itinerary:

Day 1 - Depart home country.
Day 2 - Arrive Kathmandu. Transfer to good local hotel. Briefing by 360 Guide.
Day 3 - Final preparation in Kathmandu.
Day 4-11 - Transfer to start of trek at Arughat. Trek to Base Camp. Essential acclimatisation.
Day 12-41 - Ascent of Manaslu. Climbing period of 4 weeks.
Day 42 - Return to Sama Guan.
Day 43 - Helicopter to Kathmandu (not include)
Day 44 - Spare day in Kathmandu
Day 45 - Fly home (early October)