Annapurna Expedition (8091m)

Annapurna is an enormous Himalayan massif, the tenth highest mountain in the world. In 1950, it became the first 8,000 meter mountain to be successfully climbed. It is located east of a great gorge cut through the Himalaya by the Kali Gandaki river. The mountain has glaciers on its western and north-western slopes which drain into this gorge.

Annapurna would translate into "The Goddess rich in Sustenance" or simply "The Provider".

Little was known about the mountain until 1949 when Dr. A. Heim from the windows of a Dakota aircraft viewed Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. The aircraft could not fly high enough for proper observation or for photographs, still the next year, June 3rd 1950, Annapurna was conquered. It was the first eight thousanders to be climbed, this feat was accomplished by the French.

However, all the routes on the mountain pose severe difficulties and hence it is probably why fewer climbers have reached the summit in comparison to other 80000m peaks.