Manaslu Expedition

Overview

Mount Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world is a popular mountain for extreme mountaineering climbers. Mt. Manaslu Expedition takes you to the summit of Mt. Manaslu standing at an altitude of 8,163 meters (26,781 ft) above sea level. Manaslu is also known as “Kutang” is the eighth highest mountain in the world. It is located in the Mansiri Himal, part of the Nepalese Himalayas west-central part of Nepal. Work Manaslu means “Mountain of the Spirit”. Manaslu’s long ridges and valley glaciers provide feasible approaches from all directions culminating in a peak that towers steeply above its surrounding landscape. At least there are six different routes to climb Manaslu, of which the south face is the toughest in climbing history.  Manaslu circuit trek offers awesome mountain views along with the immense Buddhism culture and tradition of Tibetian influence.

The Himalayas may be known for its sky-scraping mountains with monstrous glaciers but the toast of the town is its rugged and endless hiking trails. It has got way many tracks that start with plains and end up reaching the summit, one of the most prominent of which is the Manaslu Expedition.

Mysterious until a few years ago, Manaslu is right now the most happening destination for trekkers and climbers. People from all over the world yearn to ascend the mountain given its easy access compared to other mountain hikes. Besides that, they also hope to take a glimpse of Ganesh Himal and Ngadi Chuli.

Manaslu is as pretty as a picture with rolling landscapes, verdant forests, steep cliffs, and unparalleled mountains. There are historic monasteries and well-preserved Chorten along the way to the acme, all aiding to make it an idyllic excursion.

Trails of Manaslu look magical during winter with snow-smeared views and fall foliage in autumn. They are a mix of rough terrain, wide-flat valleys, and stone stairs. Manaslu expedition will also have you walking through the woods of pine and fir.

It is renowned as the eighth tallest mountain in the world, Manaslu lies in the Mansiri Himal in west-central Nepal. The peak rises sharply up to an elevation of 8,156 meters walking the snowy ridge and chain of hills.

The Manaslu expedition starts with a thrilling drive to Soti Khola passing rivers and foothills. The trek officially starts from Arughat and walks by several villages including Machha Khola, Jagat, and Namrung.

On the verge of walking the trail that extends 109 miles from Arughat, we’ll scramble steep trails of Samagaun, come across waterfalls, and scale the craggy region with snow. After spending over a month on the trail and acclimatization, we’ll finally climb the mountain.

The vista from the summit is staggering with the close shot of nearby mountains, sweeping landscapes, and glaciers. After climbing the peak, we’ll head back to the trail all the way to Soti Khola.

Manaslu Climbing Expedition Route

We follow the Burigandaki valley trail up to Sama Goan. Our first acclimatization day is scheduled at 4600 meters before we head up to Manaslu Base Camp at 4750 m. On the Manaslu Glacier, we carefully follow the bamboo marker wands.

Camp 1 (5700m/18,700ft)-04hrs:

Once you have reviewed basic and advanced training by your climbing Sherpa guide, you will be ready for your attempt to climb to camp 1, which is at the height of 18,700ft/5800m. In this section of the climb, you will encounter mixed terrain, including a few crevasses and short ice sections on the glacier’s first section. Before the glacier section, you will encounter grassy slopes, rock slabs, and moraine. For average climbers, it takes about 4 hours. The first section of climbing on the moraine takes about an hour, and when you reach the crampon point at the mouth of the glacier, the glacier portion takes about 3 hours. Camp one separate into two sections, lower camp one and upper base 1; the distance between the two is 100m/328ft.

Camp 2 (6400m/21,000ft)-05hrs:

The climbing from camp 1 to camp 2 is the most technical section on Mt. Manaslu. During this section, you encounter the heart of the icefall. The first section is just slogging over snow for about an hour, and then you encounter several steep areas of the ice, two ladder crossings, and steep snow climbing. Expect that this section will take you about 5 hours. Expect that you will encounter several steep ice sections that are 100m at a slope of 65º. The crux of the route Camp 2, located above the icefall on a snowy terrace for most people.

Camp 3(6800m/22,310ft)-02-03hrs:

Camp two to camp three is the shortest distance and will be your shortest climbing day. It does not require any ladder crossings, but a few crevasses are roughly a half meter that needs to jump. The main ropes fix by climbing Sherpa’s team. This section for most climbers feels more comfortable, but do not take it lightly. The climbing is still on supported slants, and there is an openness to cold and wind. Albeit in spring, there have been reports of direct sun hitting this segment, causing it to feel hot

Camp 4 (7500m/24,606ft):

Climbing from camp 3 to camp four feels like a long day, the short nut distance now you are nearing the death zone. As all climbers know, the oxygen levels are deficient at this altitude, so it expects that any effort will feel arduous, no matter how minimal or trivial. In this section, you have to climb for 3-4 hours on steep snow on a 50-55º slope. This section is dangerous because the snow slope covers a layer of ice, which makes the ethos section avalanche prone. Compared with other route sections, this portion is too physical, with sustained steep snow sections at extreme altitudes in avalanche terrain.

Summit (8156m/26,759ft)-16-17 hrs:

Summit day, the main goal during the climbing period. Most climbers begin their summit bid at 1:00 is. If all goes well, they reach the summit between 7-10 am. Below the central panel is a false summit; the leading conference reached via an exposed ridge. It takes about 4 hours to return to Camp 4 from the meeting and another 2 hours to camp three for an overnight stay. The climbing is not technical in the early part as you ascend through several basins with short snow headwalls. The climb passes the false summit and finishes on an exposed ridge to the proper meeting for a spectacular view of the mighty Himalaya. Satori Adventures Sherpa guides will fix ropes break trail and make every effort to assist the group in reaching the summit of the world’s 8th highest mountain.

Best time for Manaslu Expedition

Until and unless you’re climbing base camp, there’s no need to think about which time is best to visit Manaslu. But if you’re scrambling the trail all the way to the summit, then it becomes a must to hike the mountain during prime trekking season which is either spring or autumn.

It’s the perfect space of time to climb Manaslu provided warm weather and mild atmospheric conditions. As soon as the monsoon cloud moves away, the weather gets clear again with a bright sky in autumn. There’s a colorful setting everywhere with the green leaves turning into gold and red-tinted.

The dust-free air in autumn improves visibility and provides a sheer view. Starting off September, the temperature ranges from 7 to 21 Degree Celsius, causing days to be hot and mellowy while nights cool and placid.

Other than autumn, spring also has got likable weather with mild days and crisp nights. After months-long cold winter, it brings the sunshine back making the trip delightful. Spring temperature ranges anywhere from -6 to 10 Degree Celsius.

Unlike autumn, it brings nature back to life with green foliage everywhere. The fragrance of wildflowers and rhododendron can be whiffed all over the forests. You can explore the frisky side of Manaslu by walking through the forest and screening wildlife.

Winter and monsoon is definitely not the companion you want during the Manaslu expedition. They’ll only create trouble for the hikers adding to the difficulty level. Winter really has the worst weather with temperature dripping as low as -10 Degree Celsius.

It’s complicated to keep the mind stable in such circumstances which is the reason many trekkers give up on the expedition. Likewise, Monsoon sees heavy rainfall which induces the trail to be slippery. The passing clouds with rain also obstruct the views which make hiking worthless.