Manaslu (8163m) and Dhaulagiri (8167m)

Ed Viesturs Summits Annapurna on May 12, 2005!
Ed Viesturs Endeavor 8000 Index

Viesturs Post-Climb Interview
and Photo Gallery
Wednesday, June 2, 1999
When Ed Viesturs returned to the United States from what he calls his "most successful climbing trip ever," he sat down with MountainZone.com to fill us in on the details. Among the topics he covered: how it feels to have climbed 12 of the 14 8,000-meter peaks (without supplemental oxygen), what it's like to climb a Himalayan giant alpine style, his dangerous descent from Dhaulagiri, and his thoughts on the discovery of Mallory.
[Click for the Interview] [Click for Post-Climb Photos]

Join The Mountain Zone as we follow Ed Viesturs on his quest to become the first American to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000 meter peaks. With Viesturs' success on 26, 781 foot Manaslu April 21, he has now summitted 11 of the 14 [read about Viesturs' previous climbs], and now he, and partner Veikka Gustafsson, will attempt 26,795 foot Dhaulagiri [map of Nepal (36K)], while still acclimatized.

[Dhaulagiri]

The two-man team is climbing both peaks in lightweight style: the attempt on Manaslu required acclimatization, load carrying, and the establishment of camps. Now, they plan to fly quickly via helicopter to Dhaulagiri—thus preserving their acclimatization—and attempt to climb the peak in virtual alpine style in a matter of days. This is high-altitude climbing at its most modern.

Right here, you can follow the climbing action as it happens. Ed Viesturs will report to The Mountain Zone throughout April and May via satellite telephone, so stay tuned for one of the greatest climbing adventures of modern times.

— Peter Potterfield, Mountain Zone Editor