Makalu 2001

A group of Mountain Guides from S. Martino di Castrozza will depart for Makalu on 1/04/2001

March 2001

25 years have passed since the historic expedition to Dhaulagiri in 1976 which saw Zortea and Simoni reach the summit. Now a group of Italian Mountain Guides belonging to the Aquile di San Martino will return to the Himalayan giants, this time though with the aim of scaling Makalu, the fifth highest mountain on earth.

The close-knit and enthusiastic nine-man team will depart on 1 April to climb this splendid mountain, situated on the border between Nepal and Tibet. All have worked and climbed together for many years on some of the hardest walls in the Dolomites, and their experience and enthusiasm will be key to a successful outcome of the expedition.

At 8475m Makalu is considered to be one of the most beautiful Himalayan giants.
Beautiful and isolated, as the approach takes twelve days. Having set up Base Camp at the NW tip of the Barun glacier on Makalu's west face, the expedition will acclimatise and establish Advanced Base Camp at 5500m. From here they will establish a further three camps as they attempt the route climbed by the French expedition led by Jean Franco which first summited Makalu in 1955. The group of Mountain Guides hopes to return safely to San Martino at the end of May.

The expedition's official website www.makalu2001.org will cover the expedition, and dispatches of the team's progress will also be available on PlanetMountain.com.

The team is sponsored and supported by the Comprensorio di Primiero, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Azienda di Promozione Turistica San Martino di Castrozza e Primiero, Cassa Rurale Valli di Primiero e Vanoi and The North Face.

Further information: www.makalu2001.org

Makalu 8475 m - photo F. Tremolada

Mountaineers

Renzo Corona
Mountain Guide
Mezzano
Expedition leader

Narciso 'Narci' Simion
Mountain Guide
Transacqua
Vice expedition leader

Mariano Lott
Mountain Guide
San Martino C.

Tullio Simoni
Mountain Guide
Transacqua

Sebastiano Zagonel
Mountain Guide
Tonadico

Donato Zagonel
Mountain Guide
Tonadico

Giampaolo Corona
Mountain Guide
Mezzano

Gianfranco Dellantonia
Mezzano
Communications

Dott. Alessandro Rigobello
Padova
Doctor