This morning, several clients and their Sherpas summited Manaslu, despite high winds and unstable snow slabs.
Seven Summit Treks reported that eight of their team made it to the top, including six Sherpas. Sixteen-year old Nima Rinji Sherpa, son of one of the directors of 14 Peaks Expedition and nephew of Dawa Sherpa, director of Seven Summit Treks, topped out at 9:20 am. He thus became the youngest person to reach the true summit of Manaslu. Photographer Manish Maharjan and two Sherpas, Pemba Thinduk and Nurbu, accompanied him.
Sixteen-year-old Nima Rinji Sherpa became the youngest person to summit Manaslu. Photo: 14 Peaks Expedition
8K Expeditions also placed several on top between 5:25 am to 11:28 am this morning, including Baljeet Kaur. She became the first Indian to reach the true summit of Manaslu and did so without supplemental oxygen. Mingma Thenduk Sherpa was with her.
In the middle, Indian climber Baljeet Kaur. Left, her guide Mingma Thenduk Sherpa. Photo: 8K Expeditions
Two clients and three guides from Elite Exped also summited today, along with an unknown number from 7 Summits Club, under the leadership of Alex Abramov.
More climbers hope to take advantage of the weather window to summit over the next few days. However, continued strong winds may cause problems, and between Camp 3 and Camp 4, the terrain remains dangerous due to the unstable snow slabs that can avalanche at any time.
Still other climbers in Base Camp said that they would move up to Camp 3 and then evaluate how to proceed.
More than half of those who summited today were Sherpas.
A climber treks past an ice cliff on Manaslu. Photo: Elite Exped
There are now two types of climbers on Manaslu: Clients — including several without any experience — who leave the decision in the hands of the Sherpas and the agencies; and those who will try to summit without bottled oxygen and personal Sherpa assistance, and will make their own decisions. Some of these have formed a small group.
Everest and Dhaulagiri
On Everest, Andrzej Bargiel returned to Camp 2 after high winds stopped him and his team from setting up Camp 4. The weather did not permit a new summit attempt today, so they will stay another night in Camp 2. Tomorrow, they will decide whether to attempt a fresh summit push on Sunday or Monday. Bargiel aims to make the first no-O2 ski descent from the highest peak in the world.
Finally, Seven Summit Treks will start its summit push on Dhaulagiri soon.
Strong winds on Manaslu. From a video by Dave Watson
