| Melungtse | |
|---|---|
| 门隆则峰 | |
 Melungtse (7181 m) from an aircraft. Main summit in the background, Melungtse II is the left peak on the ridge in the foreground. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,181 m (23,560 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,551 m (5,089 ft)[1] |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Coordinates | 27°58′21″N86°25′54″E / 27.97250°N 86.43167°E /27.97250; 86.43167[1] |
| Geography | |
  Melungtse Location in Tibet | |
 | |
| Location | China (Tibet) |
| Parent range | Rolwaling Himal,Himalayas |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | October 23, 1992 by Marko Prezelj and Andrej Štremfelj |
| Easiest route | snow/ice climb |
Melungtse (Chinese:门隆则峰;Standard Tibetan:Jobo Garu;Chinese:乔格茹峰;pinyin:Qiáogérú Fēng; other English spelling:Menlungtse) is the highestmountain of theRolwaling Himal in theHimalayas.
The peak has a long summit ridge capped by the east (main) summit and the west summit, also known as Melungtse II, 7,023m. The mountain's steep faces make it more difficult than its elevation would suggest.
Melungtse lies just north of theNepal–China border, on a western spur ridge coming out of the main north-south trending ridge of the Rolwaling Himal, inTingri County,Shigatse Prefecture ofTibet. To the southwest, across the Menlung Chu, liesGauri Sankar, which, though a bit lower (7134 m), is much more visible from Nepal, hence better-known. Melungtse lies about 40 km west ofMount Everest.
Melungtse was off limits to climbing until quite recently. The first attempt was made in Oct 1982 when Bill Denz made a strictly illegal attempt on the southeast ridge, after sneaking over the border from Nepal's Rolwaling Valley. However he turned back while still low on the route. In 1987 and 1988Chris Bonington led two expeditions, with the second one succeeding in puttingAndy Fanshawe andAlan Hinkes on the west summit, but did not climb the main summit.[2][3] Another attempt in 1990, this time on the East Ridge of the main summit, failed well below the top.
The first ascent of the main peak came in 1992.SloveniansMarko Prezelj andAndrej Štremfelj ascended the dangerous, 2000m southeast face in less than two and a half days up and down.[citation needed]
TheHimalayan Index lists only one other attempt on Melungtse, a failed attempt via the North Face in 1999.
| International | |
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| National | |
