Latitude
28° 35' 45"
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Longitude
83° 49' 20" |
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Height
8091m |
Zone
Gandaki |
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Status
10th highest peak in the world |
The French made history by climbing the first eight-thousander
in the world. Until 1950, no human had climbed above 8000m.
Thus when Maurice Herzog led his expedition to the summit
of this 8091m peak on the 3rd of June, it was reason enough
for jubilation for the climbing community throughout the world.
Louis Lachenal accompanied Herzog to the top.
The Annapurna range has many popular peaks that are regularly
climbed by mountaineers. It consists of the main peak and
four others that share its name. They are Annapurna I (the
main peak), Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna III (7555m), Annapurna
IV (7525m) and Annapurna South (7219m). The Annapurna massif
is visible from the Pokhara valley and forms a permanent backdrop
for the lake city.
There are two major routes to the Annapurna region. The mountain
can be approached from Pokhara city in the Gandaki Zone or
Besi Sahar in Lamjung. It should be noted that the most prominent
mountain seen from the Pokhara valley is not one of these,
but a 6993m high mountain known as Machhapuchhre (fish tail).
Though lower than the Annapurnas, this peak by its closeness
to the valley appears taller. The main peak Annapurna I is
barely visible from a distance. In fact the French expedition
of 1950 spent weeks searching for this peak.
From Pokhara, a bus takes you up to Phedi, which is a one-hour
drive, from where the trek begins. The next well-known settlement
is Dhampus and on to Landrung. The next day you reach the
hot springs at Jhinu Danda. On Day 3, the trek goes from Chomrong
to Kuldighar and Bamboo Lodge. The following day the Machhapuchhre
Base Camp is reached via Dobang. From here Annapurna Base
Camp is only 2 hours away.
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