Just a few kilometres west of Cho Oyu isNangpa La (5,716m/18,753 ft), aglaciated pass that serves as the main trading route between theTibetans and theKhumbu'sSherpas. This pass separates the Khumbu andRolwalingHimalayas. Due to its proximity to this pass and the generally moderate slopes of the standard northwest ridge route, Cho Oyu is considered the easiest8,000 metre peak to climb.[4] It is a popular objective forprofessionally guided parties.
Cho Oyu's height was originally measured at 26,750 feet (8,150 m) and at the time of the first ascent it was considered the 7th highest mountain on earth, afterDhaulagiri at 8,167 metres (26,795 ft) (Manaslu, now 8,156 metres (26,759 ft), was also estimated lower at 26,658 feet (8,125 m)).[5] A 1984 estimate of 8,201 metres (26,906 ft) made it move up to sixth place. New measurements made in 1996 by the Government of Nepal Survey Department and theFinnish Meteorological Institute in preparation for the Nepal Topographic Maps put the height at 8,188 m,[6] one remarkably similar to the 26,867 feet (8,189 m) used byEdmund Hillary in his 1955 bookHigh Adventure.[7]
Cho Oyu wasfirst attempted in 1952 by an expedition organised and financed by theJoint Himalayan Committee of Great Britain as preparation for an attempt on Mount Everest the following year. The expedition was led byEric Shipton and includedEdmund Hillary,Tom Bourdillon andGeorge Lowe.[8] A foray by Hillary and Lowe was stopped due to technical difficulties and avalanche danger at an ice cliff above 6,650 m (21,820 ft) and a report of Chinese troops a short distance across the border influenced Shipton to retreat from the mountain rather than continue to attempt to summit.[9]
Cho Oyu is considered the easiesteight-thousander,[nb 1] with the lowest death-summit ratio (1⁄25th ofAnnapurna's).[13][14] It is the second most climbedeight-thousander afterEverest (whose height makes it the most popular), and has over four times the ascents of the third most populareight-thousander,Gasherbrum II. It is marketed as a "trekking peak", achievable for climbers with high fitness, but low mountaineering experience.[citation needed] It has a broadly flat summit plateau with nocairn (the traditionalprayer flags on Cho Oyu's summit plateau do not mark the "technical" summit),[nb 2] which can be a source of confusion, and debate, amongst climbers (seeElizabeth Hawley).[nb 3]
1958 Second ascent of the peak, by anIndian expedition. Sherpa Pasang Dawa Lama reaches the peak for the second time. First death on Cho Oyu.[10]
1959 Four members are killed in an avalanche during a failed international women's expedition.[10][17]
1964 A controversial third ascent by a German expedition as there is no proof of reaching the summit. Two mountaineers die of exhaustion in camp 4 at 7,600 m (24,930 ft).[10]
1978Edi Koblmüller and Alois Furtner ofAustria summit via the extremely difficult southeast face.[10]
1984 Věra Komárková (USA) and Dina Štěrbová (Czechoslovakia) become the first women to climb Cho Oyu. Štěrbová is also the first woman from Czechoslovakia to climb an 8,000er.
1985 On February 12,PolesMaciej Berbeka andMaciej Pawlikowski make the first winter ascent via a new route on the southeast face. It is the only winter ascent on aneight-thousander made on a new route and the first winter ascent without additional oxygen support. The ascent was repeated three days later byAndrzej Heinrich andJerzy Kukuczka, with Kukuczka setting an additional record for climbing two eight-thousanders during the same winter, as he had earlier climbedDhaulagiri.[18][19]
1988 On November 2, a Slovenian expedition consisting of Iztok Tomazin, Roman Robas, Blaž Jereb, Rado Nadvešnik, Marko Prezelj and Jože Rozman reach the summit via the never before climbed north face.
1994 On May 13Carlos Carsolio sets a world record speed ascent from base camp to summit, ascending in 18 hours and 45 minutes.[20]
1994 First solo ascent via the South West face by Yasushi Yamanoi.[21]
2000 Russian-Finnish expedition of nine climbers summitted the top, but two of them disappeared in the attempt and were presumed dead.[22]
^Of the fourteen mountains surpassing the magic number 8000 metres in height, it is considered the easiest one to climb, and only the highest, Everest, has had more ascents.[12]
^Many people who climb Cho Oyu in Tibet stop at a set of prayer flags with views of Everest and believe they’ve reached the top, unaware they still have to walk for 15 minutes across the summit plateau until they can see the Gokyo Lakes in Nepal.[15]
^Miss Hawley uses the “did you see Everest” as her standard question, I have mentioned this to her as well. I have summitted Cho Oyu 4 times and will be heading for my fifth this coming season. Each time I have watched the Koreans and Japanese go only to where they can see Everest, not the summit, because they know this is what will be asked.[16]
