8,000 metre peaks

Everest from the Khumbu valley

The highest mountains in the world are 8,000 metres above sea level, that is the height at which jet aircrafts fly!
There are 14 of these giants rising up above 8,000 metres, often referred to as the 14 x 8,000ers. They are to be found in Asia, starting in Pakistan and stretching across Nepal, Tibet, India, Bhutan.
Also called the wall of the Himalayas (literally because they stand up like a wall)

The 8,000 metre peaks are in height order:
1 - Everest (8,850 meters)
2 - K2 (8,615 meters)
3 - Kanchenjunga (8,586 meters)
4 - Lhotse (8,516 meters)
5 - Makalu (8,485 meters)
6 - Cho Oyo (8,201 meters)
7 - Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters)
8 - Manaslu (8,163 meters)
9 - Nanga Parbat (8,125 meters)
10- Annapurna (8,091 meters)
11- Gasherbrum 1 (8,080 meters)
12- Broad Peak (8,051 meters)
13- Gasherbrum 2 (8,034 meters)
14- Shishapangma (8,027 meters)

Everest (right) and Lhotse from Makalu

Climbing to 8,000 metres puts the human body under enormous strain. Few people climb 8,000 metre peaks without the aid of supplementary oxygen or sherpas
It is not called the 'death zone' for nothing, the body is literally starved of oxygen - this causes the brain to 'swim' in a thick fog causing unrelenting headaches. The heart rate races up to 200 beats per minute (for what can be hours) the smallest of tasks can become over- whelming. A tired, weakened body quickly becomes ill-equipped to deal with the sub-zero temperatures at over 8,000 metres, obviously this can become fatal. Altitude can have serious mental and physical effects, atmospheric pressure being approximately only one third of that at sea level!

Now remember, in these conditions and with the mind swimming in near constant fog, you must climb.
8,000 metre peaks are climbed over a period of months, starting from a 'base camp' then using various camps up the hill for equipment drops and slow acclimatisation, acclimatisation being key to the successful climb of an 8,000 metre peak - and then of course the weather!

Life on an 8,000 metre peak

Shishapangma's base camp at 5,000 metres

You can see Shishapangma in the distance, it is another 25 kms to advanced base camp (5,600 metres)
There is a cook tent, dining tent and then private 'base camp' tents for each climber.
A local Tibetan (part of the team) normally sleeps in the 'cook tent' to protect all the food and equipment from thieves.

YAKS! These beasts play a large part in Himalayan expeditions! The locals use them for everything: wool, milk, meat, carrying things..
Here they are loaded with equipment (things are stored in blue barrels to keep them dry and "easier" to carry) The yaks are then herded up to advanced base camp. This is as far as they go - from here supplies are carried by man.

Before any climbing starts there is the 'puja' offering to the Gods from the locals to ensure the climber's safety, also the blessing of all equipment.

Example of a glacier on Makalu just before camp 1

Avalanche! on Shishapangma