The only remaining team on this winter’s 8,000m peaks has finally surrendered.
They set up three camps along the route and fixed 3,500m of ropes, then launched a summit push. Sanu Sherpa, Phurba Onggel Sherpa, and Pastemba Sherpa of Nepal, plus Abolfazl Gozali of Iran, reached 7,900m on 8,485m Makalu before 80kph winds pushed them back on Sunday.
Their outfitter, Makalu Adventure, told ExplorersWeb that they had to retreat to their high camp at 7,300m for the night.
Left to right, Pastemba Sherpa, Sanu Sherpa, Phurba Onggel Sherpa. Below, Abolfazl Gozali of Iran. Photo: Makalu Adventure
The climbers then returned to Base Camp today. A forecast of 100kph winds for several days prompted them to end their attempt.
Today, they began the four-day trek back to Tashigau village. There, they will have a chance to give further details.
No one has succeeded on the winter 8,000’ers this season. The Annapurna team retreated from around Camp 3. Simone Moro, Oswald Pereira, and Nima Rinji Sherpa had no chance to climb Manaslu. Jost Kobusch, at least, fulfilled his goal of surpassing 7,500m alone on Everest’s West Ridge. The Makalu team, climbing on oxygen and in classic expedition style, has been the only one to launch a summit push. They reached further than the other groups, a significant feat for such a small team.
