Langtang Lirung

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Langtang Lirung
Elevation	7,227 metres (23,711 feet)
Location	Khumbu, Nepal
Range	Langtang Himal
Prominence	1,525 metres
Coordinates	28°15′22″N, 85°31′10″E
First ascent	October 24, 1978 by Seishi Wada and Pemba Tsering
Easiest route	rock/snow/ice climb

Langtang Lirung is the highest peak of the Langtang Himal, which is a subrange of the Nepal Himalaya, southwest of the Eight-thousander Shisha Pangma.

[edit] Location

The Langtang Himal forms the western portion of a complex of mountains which also includes the Jugal Himal, home of Shisha Pangma. This complex lies between the Sun Kosi valley on the east and the Trisuli Gandaki valley on the west. Langtang Lirung lies near the Trisuli Gandaki, and north of the Langtang Khola.

[edit] Notable Features

Though not high by the standards of major Himalayan peaks, Langtang Lirung is notable for its large vertical relief above local terrain. For example, it rises 5500m above the Trisuli Gandaki to the west in only 16km. It has a large South Face which long resisted climbing attempts.

[edit] Climbing History

The peak was reconnoitered by H. W. Tilman and P. Lloyd in 1949. Attempts were made to climb the peak via the East Ridge in the 1960's, but none got close to the summit.

In 1978, Seishi Wada and Pemba Tsering, from a Japanese-Sherpa expedition, succeeded in reaching the summit, via the same East Ridge route. They made four camps.

According to the Himalayan Index, there have been 14 ascents of Langtang Lirung (in 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, and 1995), mostly by the Southeast or Southwest Ridge routes; and 13 unsuccessful attempts on the peak. (These may be underestimates.)

[edit] Sources

H. Adams Carter, "Classification of the Himalaya," American Alpine Journal 1985.
Jill Neate, High Asia: An Illustrated History of the 7000 Metre Peaks, ISBN 0-89886-238-8
Himalayan Index
DEM files for the Himalaya (Corrected versions of SRTM data)