Giripremi team to climb Mt Annapurna-I in April

The climbing team of the expedition consists of Bhushan Harshe (Mt Everest and Mt Kangchenjunga Summitter), Dr Sumeet Mandale (Mt Cho Oyu and Mt Kanchenjunga Summitter) and Jitendra Gaware (Mt Kangchenjunga Summitter). Umesh Zirpe, leader of Giripremi’s 8,000er metres mountain expeditions, will lead Mt Annapurna-I Expedition 2021.

It is his eighth consecutive expedition as a leader.

Zirpe said, “After the enormous success of the Mt Everest expedition in 2012, we had been constantly asked by people, what next? After Mt Everest, Giripremi decided to climb all 14 mountains in the world that are taller than 8,000 metres. We are already halfway there. Our teams reached the summit of seven such mountains in the past seven years, including Mt Everest in 2012, Mt Lhotse (the world’s fourth-highest mountain) in 2013, Mt Makalu (the fifth highest) in 2014, Mt Cho Oyu (sixth highest) and Mt Dhaulagiri (seventh highest) in 2016, Mt Manaslu (eighth highest) in 2017 and Mt Kangchenjunga (third-highest) in 2019. Now, we have planned an expedition to Mt Annapurna I, located in Nepal. The mountain stands tall with a height of 8091 metres and is known as one of the toughest mountains to climb across the globe. Giripremi’s three experienced and skilled climbers will climb Mt Annapurna I in March-April 2021.”

About Mt Annapurna

Mt Annapurna- I is located in Nepal Himalaya’s Annapurna massif. This massif is a home of several tall mountains. It has 16 6,000-metres and above mountains, 13 7,000 metres and above and Mt Annapurna-I is the solitary 8,000 metre mountain. Annapurna Massif is 55-kilometers-long, surrounded by Gandki and Marshyangadi glaciers. Long ridges, avalanche-prone areas are characteristic of the massif, which makes climbing extremely difficult. To date, at least 200 to 250 climbers have reached the summit of Mt Annapurna I successfully. The data shows that till March 2012, 191 climbers have summitted the mountain. Whereas 52 climbers have lost their lives while ascending the mountain and nine have lost the lives in descending. Mt Annapurna-I has caused 34 deaths for every 100 climbs. Annapurna-I was the first 8,000 metre mountain that was climbed successfully. On June 3, 1950, French climbers Morris Herzog and Lois Lachenal made it to the summit of Annapurna-I. There are several climbing routes and the Giripremi team will be climbing from the North West ridge.

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