The Annapurna Range from the North and South

The south side of the Annapurnas on top as photographed from a flight above Pokhara town and the north side below photographed from the Kang La Pass (5320 metres) - click to enlarge

On my last trek to the valleys of Nar and Phu in Nepal, I crossed the Kang la Pass ( 5320 metres) and descended into the Manang valley to join the famed Annapurna circuit route. On that sunny morning, I had a dress circle view of the Annapurna peaks from the northern side. I shot a panorama of the view and later on compared it to the view from the south which most of us are familiar with. The two views are given above for comparison.

The post below covers some of these great mountains and their first ascents. The data is courtesy the data base of Elizabeth Hawley.

1960 Dhaulagiri 8167m / 26,795ft

Expedition: Swiss / International

Leaders: Eiselin & Forrer

Summiteers: Dienberger, Diener, Schelbert, Vaucher, Weber, Sherpas ND & ND

Dhaulagiri Poon Hill View

1964 Annapurna South 7219m / 23,684ft

Expedition: Japanese

Leaders: Higuchi & Uyeo

Summiteers: Sherpa MT

1950 Annapurna I 8091m / 26,545ft

Expedition: French

Leaders: Herzog

Summiteers: Herzog, Lachenal

Annapurna I from the south - this was not the route climbed by Herzog in 1950 but by Bonington's team  in 1970

1962 Mardi Himal 5587m / 18,330ft

Expedition: British

Leaders: JOM Roberts

Summiteers: Sherpas AT, TN

1964 Machhapuchhare 6993m / 22,943ft

Expedition: British

JOM Roberts, attempt. Did not summit, got to within 20m of summit and turned back. Mountain now closed to expeditions.

Machhapuchhare from the Annapurna south base camp

1965 Gangapurna 7455m / 24,459ft

Expedition: West German

Leaders: Hauser & Greissl

Summiteers: Ehlers, Ekkerlein, Kollensperger, Reismueller, Seibold,

Wuensche, Sherpas - AT, PN & PD

1961 Annapurna III 7555m / 24,787ft

Expedition: Indian

Leaders: Kohli

Summiteers: Gyatso & Sherpa GS

 1955 Annapurna IV 7525m / 24,688ft

Expedition: West German

Leaders: Steinmetz

Summiteers: Biller & Wellenkamp

1960 Annapurna II 7937m / 26,041ft

Expedition: British

Leaders: JOM Roberts

Summiteers: Bonnington, Grant & Sherpa AN

1974 Lamjung Himal 6983m / 22,910ft

Expedition: British

Leaders: Burgess

Summiteers: Chamberlain, Isherwood, Neame & Scott

View 300 metres below Kang La including Dhaulagiri and the Chulu peaks - click to enlarge

1956 Manaslu 8163m / 26,781ft

Expedition: Japanese

Leaders: Maki

Summiteers: Higeta, Imanishi, Kato & Sherpa GN

1960 Himalchuli 7893m / 25,896ft

Expedition: Japanese

Leaders: Yamada & Miyashita

Summiteers: Harada, Nakazawa & Tanabe

1960 Baudha 6672m / 21,890ft

Expedition: Japanese

Leaders: Iso

Summiteers: Kobayashi & Shibata

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