Annapurna Expedition (8091m)

Annapurna (8091m)
Annapurna was first climbed by a French expedition in 1950. There are four summits called Annapurna; the entire massif forms a barrier on the northern side of the pokhara Valley.

The main summit of the Annapurna sanctuary; Annapurna II is above Chame, about 24km to the east. Fewer climbers have reached the summit of Annapurna than any other 8000m peak in Nepal. Only 96 climbers on 106 expedition had reached the summit by the end of 2002 52 climbers had died on the mountain.

A french expedition led by maurice Herzog explored the kali Gandaki valley in 1950. After deciding that Dhaulagiri was too difficult, they turned there attention to climbing Annapurna. Hampered by inaccurate maps, they spent considerable time and effort finding a way to the foot of the mountain. They eventually ascended via the Miristi khola to the north face and made what was the first ascent of any 8000m peak on Jun 3, Just before the start of the moonsoon.
The summiters Suffered frostbite on the descent and were finally evacuated back to the roadhead in india.

Annapurna was not climbed again until 1970, when a British army expedition followed essentially the same route as Herzog. At the same time Chris Bonington let a successful British expedition to the very steep and difficult south face.