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Climbing
Peaks - Lhotse |
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Guide > The Himalayas
> Climbing Peaks |
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Latitude
27° 58' north
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Longitude
86° 56' east |
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Height
8501m |
Zone
Khumbu |
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Status
4th highest in the world |
The fourth highest mountain in the world, Mt Lhotse rarely makes
headline news. It has been totally overshadowed by its famous
neighbor, Mt Everest. In fact many climbers have gone up this
mountain as an exercise before attempting the highest mountain
peak. A Swiss Expedition led by Albert Eggler made the first
successful attempt on Lhotse. Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger
reached the summit on 18th May 1956.
There are two subsidiary peaks besides the main peak, which
are known as Lhotse Shar and Nuptse. The former lies in the
east- ridge and the latter on the west. The main peak is connected
to the Everest by the south column, which lies above 8000m.
The approach route to the two great peaks is identical if climbing
from the south. Climbers head up towards the Lhotse even while
attempting to climb Everest. There are two major trek routes
to the Everest base camp from where the climb to Lhotse begins.
The older route starts from Jiri and is the trek taken by the
famous Everest Expedition of 1953. Jiri lies 188 km from Kathmandu
and is a twelve-hour bus journey away. Nepalese people of diverse
ethnic groups like Newars, Chhetris, Tamangs, Jirels and Sherpas
inhabit this town. The rich culture that remains intact in the
villages make these treks worth the hardship and time spent
on the road. On the other hand, the constant gain and loss of
altitude while trudging up and down the hills and valleys ensures
a natural acclimatization. You are also rewarded with spectacular
views of the Himalayan ranges.
On the other hand a 40min flight to Lukla shortens the trek
by a significant eight days and is preferable if you have time
constraints. A word of caution is necessary here. Lukla flights
are notorious for flight cancellations and passengers getting
off-loaded. People often get stranded for days while waiting
a flight out. Hence a flight in and a trek out of Lukla may
be preferable. Both the routes lead through the popular settlement
of Namche Bazaar at 3440m. This village has developed beyond
imagination and boasts of not only hot showers but also libraries
and pool tables. The inhabitants of the upper reaches of the
Himalayas are predominantly Sherpas, where the trek passes through
Tengboche, Pheriche and Gorak Shep before arriving at Everest
base camp. From here the climb to the Lhotse summit begins.
Along the way Buddhist monasteries, small stupas and Mani stones
that have prayers carved on them can be of great interest. In
the higher altitudes traditions remain unchanged, and how local
tribes lived a hundred years ago is not left to the imagination.
Hotels and teahouses are a common sight along this route making
the trek a comfortable one. Views of Everest and Lhotse can
be had even before reaching Namche Bazaar while on the trek.
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