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On the South Side of Cho Oyu, one of the largest mountain faces in the Himalaya, a Russian team has started their ascent. However, the most difficult portion is still to come.
Leader Andrey Vassiliev told Explorersweb, “We reached 7,700m on our last foray up the mountain, about 250-300m below the summit ridge.”
They then had a five-day break in the town of Gokyo. They’re on their way to the top now.
According to Vassiliev, the Russians have established a high camp on a level, secure area at 7,300 meters. After that, they secured ropes up to 7,700 meters.
Vassiliev acknowledged that “we are still very far from the summit.” The route’s most challenging and intricate section is the East Ridge.
Taking the 1991 route
The group is tracing the path that previous Russian expedition paved in 1991 but never followed again. The line goes right up the face to the wickedly difficult East Ridge of Cho Oyu at some 7,900m.
Three nights or more
At an elevation of 8,000 meters, traversing the summit ridge requires extensive, arduous climbing.
“Given the powerful winds from Tibet, this is our biggest obstacle,” Vassiliev stated. “On the main ridge, we will require at least three nights in the best-case scenario.”
All four climbers are moving forward without more oxygen. They won’t have sleeping bags, but they will have a tent. All they’ll do is try to sleep in their down suits while covered by a synthetic blanket.
Although the ridge is challenging throughout, the main obstacle is what the Russians refer to as the Hall, a vertical wall on the last rocky ridge that they must rappel down and then climb back up. Numerous expeditions were halted by that part prior to 1991. and the victorious Russian squad encountered significant challenges there.
The Russians are the final group on Nepal’s 8,000-meter peaks, unless the Ukrainian team trying Makalu is still on the mountain (they were supposed to finish about now but haven’t posted in a while).
