Dhaulagiri Expedition

Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters) also known as ‘White Mountain’ is the seventh highest mountain in the world & among the most popular 8000 meters peak for Himalayan expedition. It forms the eastern anchor of the Dhaulagiri Himal, a subrange of the Himalaya in the Dhaulagiri Zone of north central Nepal. It lies northwest of Pokhara, an important regional town and tourist center. Across the deep gorge of the Kali Gandaki to the east lies the Annapurna Himal, home to Annapurna I, one of the other eight-thousanders.

When Dhaulagiri was first discovered in 1808, it was thought to be the highest mountain in the world for the westerners. It remained as highest peak for 30 years before Kanchanjunga took its place. Dhaulagiri justifies a magnificent peak rising as a giant shoulder of shining ice and snow. The South and West faces of Dhaulagiri both feature massive drops; each rises over 4000 meters from its base, and each has been the site of historical climbs. The peak was first conquered in 1960 by a via North East Ridge which has been the normal route of ascent for most of the climbing to date. Kurt Diemberger, Peter Diener, Ernst Forrer, Albin Schelbert, Nyima Dorji and Nawang Dorji, members of a Swiss/Austrian expedition, firstly conquered Dhaulagiri expedition on May 13, 1960 via North East Ridge, which has been the normal route of expedition for most of the climbing to date.

Northeast Ridge route which had been reconnoitered one year earlier by an Austrian expedition led by Fritz Moravec. This was also the first Himalayan climb supported by a fixed-wing aircraft. The aircraft, a Pilatus PC-6, crashed during an approach and was later abandoned in "Hidden Valley" north of the mountain. Dhaulagiri is buttresses by five ridges which offers the possibilities of different routes of ascent though six different routes have been established for climbing so far. The vast majority of ascents to date have been via the first ascent route, which is the "Normal Route" on the mountain. However, ascents have been made from almost every direction for the Dhaulagiri Expedition.