Ngadi Chuli
Ngadi Chuli (also known as Peak 29, Dakura, Dakum, or Dunapurna) is a high summit in the Mansiri Himal (or Manaslu Himal), also known as the Gurkha Massif, in Nepal. It is flanked by Manaslu to the north and Himalchuli to the south.
| Ngadi Chuli | |
|---|---|
![]() Ngadi Chuli (in center), left peak is Manaslu, the right one is Himalchuli | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,871 m (25,823 ft) Ranked 20th |
| Prominence | 1,020 m (3,350 ft) |
| Coordinates | 28°30′12″N 84°34′03″E |
| Geography | |
![]() Ngadi Chuli Location in Nepal | |
| Location | Nepal |
| Parent range | Himalayas |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 19 October 1970 by Hiroshi Watanabe and Lhakpa Tsering or 8 May 1979 by Ryszard Gajewski and Maciej Pawlikowski |
| Easiest route | Snow/ice climb |
Despite its top 20 height, Ngadi Chuli has only been climbed once or twice. The probable first ascent occurred in 1970. Hiroshi Watanabe and Sherpa Lhakpa Tsering, members of a Japanese expedition, climbed the east ridge and face. They left their camp V, at about 7500 metres, for a summit attack. About 70 m below the summit they disappeared out of sight for nearly two hours at 1:15 pm. On their return, after descending a difficult snow ridge, they suffered a fatal fall down an ice wall, from ca. 7600 m nearly down to camp 4 at 6900 m, where their climbing partners observed their fall. Neither their camera nor Watanabe's ice-ax, to which pennants would have been attached had they reached the summit, survived the crash so that no conclusive evidence could be found that they had reached the summit.[1] In order to achieve a confirmed ascent of the mountain, the Japanese organized three more expeditions, in 1974, 1978 and 1982, but these all failed.[1]
The first confirmed ascent was in 1979 by the Polish climbers Ryszard Gajewski and Maciej Pawlikowski via the West buttress, involving some class V rock climbing at great height.[1]
A British Army Mountaineering Association expedition attempted Peak 29 post monsoon 1982. Adverse weather and logistical problems caused by the Falklands war prevented the expedition getting above 20,000 feet. [2]
As of 2014, no further attempts have been made on the mountain since the last Japanese expedition in 1982.[1]
Timeline
- 1961 First reconnaissance by Japanese climbers.
- 1969 Third Japanese attempt reached 7350 m.
- 1970 Probable first ascent, via the east ridge and face.
- 1978 Three climbers die in an avalanche during the seventh Japanese attempt.
- 1979 First confirmed ascent, by a Polish expedition.
References
- Günter Seyfferth (2014) Ngadi Chuli (Peak 29), 7871 m at himalaya-info.org
- Lane, Bronco (2000). Military Mountaineering, page 171. hayloft. ISBN 0-9523282-1-6.

