KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 23
Two Ukrainian climbers who received the Golden Ice Axe award in 2022 for the first ascent of the southeast ridge of Annapurna-III have now left for Mt Makalu to explore a new route in the world's fifth highest mountain.
According to the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ukrainian climbers - Mykyta Balabanov and Mykhailo Fomin – have already reached the Makalu base camp after obtaining a climbing permit from the DoT last week.
Mykyta Balabanov and Mykhailo Fomin along with Viacheslav Polezhaiko won the Special Jury Award during the 2022 Piolets d'Or event for making the first successful ascent of the southeast ridge of Annapurna – III (7,555m) on 6 November 2021.
"The duo alpinists are supposed to explore a new route on Makalu but the details are still sketchy," Chhang Dawa Sherpa, Expedition Director at Seven Summit Treks, said.
According to Sherpa, SST is managing their expedition by providing base camp support to the climbers. "The Piolets d'Or recipients will attempt the mountain in an alpine style," he said.
DoT said that there were only two climbers on Makalu in the autumn season.
