Cho Oyu, 8201m, is the sixth highest mountain in the world and is situated 20km west of Mt. Everest. Technically easy to climb from the northern Chinese side, Cho Oyu is the mountain many alpinists try to climb to acclimatise for Mt. Everest. The mountain has also become popular with snowboarders.
The mountain was first climbed by an Austrian expedition in October 1954, making it the 5th eight-thousander to be climbed. And it is the West Face that has seen the most number of attempts. The crux of the climb is generally considered to be the ice fall between Camp 1 and 2 at around 6700 meters. With the number of groups on this route, this section is usually well-fixed with ropes. The second crux is the rock band above Camp 3 at around 7600 meters. As hauling one's self up at this altitude is strenuous in nature, this section has stopped a number of would-be summiteers. This section is usually climbed in the dark on the way to the summit which only adds to the challenge.
Located at the head of the Ngozumba Glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal, Cho Oyu is usually not visible from the foothills. From the Tibetan side, Cho Oyu is an imposing mountain that rises straight up from the plateau near Tingri.
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Which mountain is this?
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