Mt. Manaslu, the eighth-highest peak in the world situated at an altitude of 8,163 meters (26,781 feet) is known as the killer mountain of world. The incredible Himalayan peak is located in the west-central part of the country and shares a border with Mustang and Gorkha districts. Considering other deadly peaks like Mt. Everest (8,848 meters), the tallest peak in the world, and K2 (8,611 meters), the second-highest peak on the planet, both of which are considered a strenuous expedition, it might be a surprise for few that this eight highest peak in the 8,000-meter class is known as the ‘Killer Mountain of World’.
However, the stats don’t lie, due to the difficult terrain on the mountain, the fatality is extremely high on this peak. This towering peak located over the forest in the Budhi Gandaki Valley is less technical than Mt. Everest, which is the most popular mountain expedition in the world. Still, significant deaths have occurred while scaling this difficult which is why it has earned the nickname the ‘Killer Mountain of World’.Â
For every 100 successful ascents, the mortality rate on this peak is about 9 deaths.
Why is Manaslu Killer Mountian of World?
Manaslu which is also known as the ‘Mountain of Souls’ is considered a challenging expedition due to its exceptionally difficult terrain. The first ascend on this incredible west-central Himalayan peak was made by Toshio Imanishi and Gyaltsen Norbu Sherpa on 9th May 1956. So far, only 2,172 climbers have made it to the summit of this eight-highest peak on the planet. And, 89 mountaineers have lost their lives while trying to scale this mountain.
Thus, the overall success rate of the Manaslu Expedition is only about 60%. The challenging terrains and hazardous climatic conditions make mountain scaling extremely difficult and if not careful, it doesn’t take that long to take the last breath on this challenging peak.
Manaslu was referred to as the ‘Killer Mountain of World’ after an incident that took place during a 1972 expedition. A South Korean expedition team was struck by a massive avalanche and 15 of the climbers lost their lives. The victims in the avalanche were 4 of the Korean expedition team, a Japanese climber Kanzunari Yasuhisa, and 10 Nepali Sherpa mountain guides.
This catastrophic event highlighted the danger of scaling an 8,000-meter peak, even those that were considered relatively safer. In one fell swoop this mountain peak claimed the lives of 15 climbers, that’s why it is known as the ‘Killer Mountain of World’ even if the scaling is not that technically strenuous.
What is Difficulty Level of Manaslu Expedition?
The Manaslu expedition has been graded 4E in difficulty in the Alpine Grading System. Mountain peaks under this difficulty level are technical and challenging. It takes about 35 days to 44 days to climb Mt. Manaslu and the climbers need to be in top shape as well as experienced to take on the technical parts of this mountain.
This expedition mostly includes scaling on the steep ice and snow sections and after ascending starting scaling from the base camp, this mountain has the some of longest and uphill climbing segments. Climbers will acclimatize from camp to camp before finally pushing all the way to the summit.
The climbing section on the mountain from Camp I to Camp II is very thin and climbers have to traverse on thin snow and ice sections. Similarly, the section between Camp III and Camp IV is notorious for its steep and long sections that can be quite challenging for many mountaineers.
To move safely above Camp III which is at an altitude of 6,800 meters (22,310 feet), climbers need to use supplementary oxygen. The long distance between the camps on the mountain and the low oxygen saturation level in the atmosphere make the expedition physically vexing.
As the altitude gain is quite significant and due to the involvement of the ‘death zone’, the section above 8,000 meters, the risk of altitude sickness like Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is quite high.
Major Reasons Behind Death on Mt. Manaslu
Although Mt. Manaslu, the eigh-highest peak in the world is considered the ‘Killer Mountain of World’, it is one of the low-altitude peaks in the 8,000-meter class. Despite it being notorious as a killer mountain, it is in fact considerably one of the moderate scaling adventures in the class.
There are several reasons why the total death of climbers on this peak has reached 89. Some of the major reasons for the deaths are as follows:
Avalanche
One of the major reasons for deaths on Mt. Manaslu and the reason why it has earned the name ‘Killer Mountain of World’ is avalanches. The risk of avalanches is quite high on this and is the top reason for the most deaths on this expedition. This mountain has been often struck by large-scale avalanches that have caused a lot of deaths.
Exhaustion
As Manaslu is the eighth highest peak in the world, it’s a long journey to the summit and back to a safe camp. Due to the long distance and demanding climbing route, exhaustion during the expedition is another major cause of death on the mountain. The tough weather, low oxygen saturation level, and demanding trail cause fatigue and sometimes to an extreme level where climbers drop down on the slope without the energy to move further.
Fall
The steep dangerous ridges and narrow trails on the mountain have a higher risk of falls during the expedition. If not careful with the footing, the falls on this steep mountain can be fatal. Unlike other peaks, the exposed ridges and steep long climbing sections increase the potential risks of fall during the Manaslu expedition.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is a dangerous condition that affects mountaineers at higher altitudes where the oxygen level in the atmosphere is very low. The conditions can be as mild as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and life-threatening variants such as High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE).
Bad Weather
The weather conditions at the high altitude can be really unpredictable. Especially on the peaks that are over 8,000 meters, unpredictable weather, and high wind can make the expedition quite challenging. The hazardous weather conditions can be so deadly at times that the climbers fall or lose their way during their scaling.
Inexperienced Climbers
As Manaslu ranks eighth among the 8,000-meter mountains, most climbers take it as an easy expedition. However, lack of experience to handle the technical sections and overcome the long distance between the camps is also a major cause of death on the mountain.
Killer Mountain of World- Some Interesting Facts About Mt. Manaslu
- Even if Manaslu is considered ‘Killer Mountain of World’, the deadliest peaks in the Nepali Himalayas are Mt. Annapurna (8,091 meters), tenth tenth-highest peak in the world, and Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 meters), the third-highest peak in the 8,000-meter class. Mt. Annapurna is ranked the 1s deadliest peak on the planet, whereas Mt. Kanchenjunga ranks 3rd on the list.Â
- This west-central peak is located to the Tibetan border, an autonomous region of China
- Mt. Manaslu was listed as the 4th dangerous peak on the planet in 2008 after Annapurna, Nanga Parbat, and K2
- This 8,000-meter class peak was first climbed by Toshio Imanishi and Gyaltsen Norbu Sherpa on 9th May 1956
- This peak sits in the Manaslu Conservation Area which is spread across an area of 1663 sq km
- The Manaslub Circut Trek, a circling trekking journey of this eight-highest peak in the world is the most popular off-beaten trekking adventure in Nepal
- Due to its erratic weather, tricky technical sections, and steep route, Manaslu climbing has been considered one of the most challenging mountain expeditionÂ
