Army to scale world's eighth highest peak

The attempt comes close on the heels of the army’s successful ski expedition to Antarctica.

Scaling Mount Manaslu, at 8,163 metres altitude, is an extreme challenge that requires courage and conviction, an army spokesperson said in the release.

Due to its sheer difficulty, Indians have never attempted to scale this peak, a challenge that the Indian Army is willing to take up, he said.

The expedition was flagged off by army’s deputy chief Lt. Gen. V.S. Tonk here Tuesday.

The 18-member team, led by Col Ajay Kothiyal, a Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra winner, will leave for Kathmandu in Nepal March 24.  After a ten-day strenuous trek over mountainous terrain, the team will reach the base camp at 5,456 metres altitude.

Four camps will be established ahead of the base camp and the members will attempt scaling the peak between May 14 and 20.

The pursuit of climbing all open 8,000-metre-plus high peaks started when the Indian Army scaled Mount Everest for the first time in 2001. Ever since, the Army mountaineers have been successful in scaling six of the nine open 'eight thousanders' of the world.

Mount Manaslu expedition, being conducted under the aegis of Army Adventure Wing of Directorate General of Military Training, is the eighth peak over 8,000 metres that the Indian Army is scaling.