KATHMANDU, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Spanish climber Alex Txikon and six Nepali Sherpas successfully reached the main summit of the 8,163-meter-high Mt. Manaslu on Friday, a feat not achieved in winter since 1983.
By scaling the main summit, known as the "true peak" among the climbers, the team stood a few meters taller on the world's eighth-highest peak than those who take the normal route.
It is the second ascent of the "true peak" in nearly 40 years, Mingma Sherpa, chairperson of the Seven Summit Treks which organized the expedition, told Xinhua.
The first were done by Polish climbers Maciej Berbeka and Ryszard Gajewski on January 12, 1983, according to the Nepali government's record.
"Though climbers have been making attempts every year, summiting it (in winter) is rarely possible," Mingma Sherpa said, noting that Txikon, an experienced mountaineer, succeeded only in his third attempt this time.
The team braved harsh winter conditions and treacherous terrain to make it to the top, the organizer wrote in a Facebook post.
The ascent of Mt. Manaslu is considered a challenging and dangerous endeavor, even in the best conditions. The mountain located in western Nepal is known for its unstable snow and ice as well as strong winds and low temperatures. ■
