Annapurna II

Annapurna II
The Northeastern Face of Annapurna II
Highest point
Elevation	7,937 m (26,040 ft) Ranked 16th
Prominence	2,437 m (7,995 ft)
Parent peak	Annapurna I
Isolation	29.02 km (18.03 mi)
Listing	Seven-thousander Ultra
Coordinates	28°32′9″N84°7′17″E / 28.53583°N 84.12139°E / 28.53583; 84.12139
Geography
Annapurna II Annapurna Massif, Gandaki Province, Nepal
45km 30miles Nepal Pakistan China 45 42 41 40 37 36 35 32 30 28 27 23 21 20 17 15 14 12 11 10 9    The major peaks (not mountains) above 7,500 m (24,600 ft) height in Himalayas, rank identified in Himalayas alone (not the world). [1] The map may help give context to Annapurna II with more detail and zoomimg on click through. Legend： 1：Mount Everest , 2：Kangchenjunga , 3：Lhotse , 4：Yalung Kang, Kanchenjunga West , 5：Makalu , 6：Kangchenjunga South , 7：Kangchenjunga Central , 8：Cho Oyu , 9：Dhaulagiri , 10：Manaslu (Kutang) , 11：Nanga Parbat (Diamer) , 12：Annapurna , 13：Shishapangma (Shishasbangma, Xixiabangma) , 14：Manaslu East , 15：Annapurna East Peak , 16： Gyachung Kang , 17：Annapurna II , 18：Tenzing Peak (Ngojumba Kang, Ngozumpa Kang, Ngojumba Ri) , 19：Kangbachen , 20：Himalchuli (Himal Chuli) , 21：Ngadi Chuli (Peak 29, Dakura, Dakum, Dunapurna) , 22：Nuptse (Nubtse) , 23：Nanda Devi , 24：Chomo Lonzo (Chomolonzo, Chomolönzo, Chomo Lönzo, Jomolönzo, Lhamalangcho) , 25：Namcha Barwa (Namchabarwa) , 26：Zemu Kang (Zemu Gap Peak) , 27：Kamet , 28：Dhaulagiri II , 29：Ngojumba Kang II , 30：Dhaulagiri III , 31：Kumbhakarna Mountain (Mount Kumbhakarna, Jannu) , 32：Gurla Mandhata (Naimona'nyi, Namu Nan) , 33：Hillary Peak (Ngojumba Kang III) , 34：Molamenqing (Phola Gangchen) , 35：Dhaulagiri IV , 36：Annapurna Fang , 37：Silver Crag , 38：Kangbachen Southwest , 39：Gangkhar Puensum (Gangkar Punsum) , 40：Annapurna III , 41：Himalchuli West , 42：Annapurna IV , 43：Kula Kangri , 44：Liankang Kangri (Gangkhar Puensum North, Liangkang Kangri) , 45：Ngadi Chuli South
Parent range	Annapurna
Climbing
First ascent	May 17, 1960
Easiest route	snow/ice climb
Normal route	West Ridge

Annapurna II is the second-highest mountain of the Annapurna range located in Nepal, and the eastern anchor of the range.

In terms of elevation, isolation (distance to a higher summit, namely Annapurna I East Peak, 29.02 km or 18.03 mi) and prominence (2,437 m or 7,995 ft), Annapurna II does not rank far behind Annapurna I Main, which serves as the western anchor. It is a fully independent peak, despite the close association with Annapurna I Main which its name implies; it is, however, closely connected to the shorter Annapurna IV. Annapurna II is the 16th highest mountain in the world, and the highest ultra-prominent peak on Earth under eight-thousand meters.

Features

Annapurna II sits apart from the main ridge of the Annapurna Massif, along with the shorter Annapurna IV. Its summit proper lies along a steep rock ridge, relatively free of snow towards its highest point, which drops in altitude to run west to the summit of the smaller peak. The South Face is a large pyramidal wall only interrupted by the central spur, while the North Face is more complex, with steep walls cascading between ice fields near the summit and base of the mountain. To the northwest, a large hanging glacier occupies the flank between it and Annapurna IV, while the Northeastern wall has a distinctive, recurrent series of cornices and rock bands resembling a human face or skull, visible in the above photograph.

Annapurna II is notable for its large avalanches, especially those originating from the high snowpack behind the North-central buttress. Other dangers include rockfall, large ice overhangs, and frequent storms. These have limited the scope of mountaineering expeditions, indeed, the standard route of ascent uses the central connecting ridge with Annapurna IV to bypass many of its objective hazards.

Climbing history

It was first climbed in 1960 by a British/Indian/Nepalese team led by J. O. M. Roberts via the West Ridge, reached by climbing the North face of Annapurna IV. The summit party comprised Richard Grant, Chris Bonington, and Sherpa Ang Nyima. ^[2]

Yugoslavs from Slovenia repeated this ascent in 1969, also climbing Annapurna IV. Kazimir Drašlar and Matija Maležič reached the summit. ^[3] In 1973 Japanese took a shortcut by climbing directly up the north face between IV and V before continuing along the west ridge. Katsuyuki Kondo reached the top by himself. ^[4]

In 1983, Tim Macartney-Snape planned and participated in an expedition to Annapurna II (7,937 m or 26,040 ft), reaching the summit via the first ascent of the south spur. The descent was delayed by a blizzard and the expedition ran out of food during the last five days. They were reported missing and when the expedition eventually returned they received significant publicity. ^[5]

On Feb 2, 2007; Philipp Kunz, Lhakpa Wangel, Temba Nuru and Lhakpa Thinduk made the first winter ascent. The team followed the route of the first ascent from the north. ^[4]

References

1. "Peak Bagger:Himalaya, Central Nepal Himalaya, Khumbu, Ghurka Himal, Annapurna Himal, Xishapangma Area, Sikkim-Eastern Nepal Himalaya, Western Nepal Himalaya, Assam Himalaya, Punjab Himalaya, Bhutan Himalaya, Garwhal Himalaya, Ganesh Himal" . Retrieved 22 October 2024.
2. Roberts, J.O.M. (1960). "ANNAPURNA II, 1960". The Himalayan Journal. 22 (4). The Himalayan Club. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
3. AAJO 1970
4. AAJO 2008
5. Hall, Lincoln (1985). White limbo: The first Australian Climb of Mt. Everest. Random House Australia. ISBN   978-1-74166-864-3.

See also

• Annapurna
  • Annapurna IV
  • Annapurna I Main
  • Annapurna I Central
  • Annapurna I East
  • Annapurna III