Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world at 8,481 metres (27,825 ft). It is located in the Mahalangur Himalayas 19 km (12 mi) southeast of Mount Everest, on the China–Nepal border. One of the eight-thousanders, Makalu is an isolated peak in the shape of a four-sided pyramid.
The International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) recognises eight-thousanders as the 14 mountains that are more than 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) in height above sea level, and are considered to be sufficiently independent of neighbouring peaks. There is no precise definition of the criteria used to assess independence, and, since 2012, the UIAA has been involved in a process to consider whether the list should be expanded to 20 mountains. All eight-thousanders are located in the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges in Asia, and their summits are in the death zone.
Artur Henryk Hajzer was a Polish mountaineer. Hajzer climbed seven eight-thousanders, several via new routes and made the first winter climb of Annapurna on February 3, 1987. He also summited Annapurna East (8010m) via a new route up the SE face in 1988. All these climbs were done together with Jerzy Kukuczka, without supplemental oxygen or Sherpa support. Artur also attempted Lhotse South Face three times, reaching 8200 m in 1985, 8300 m in 1987 and 7200 m in 1989. He also organised a rescue operation on Mount Everest’s West Ridge for Andrzej Marciniak in 1989. On September 30, 2011, he summited Makalu with Adam Bielecki and Tomasz Wolfart. In July 2013 he died after falling in the Japanese Coloir after an attempt to reach the summit of Gasherbrum I.
Nives Meroi is an Italian mountaineer and a climbing writer. On 11 May 2017 she completed the ascent to the summits of all 14 eight-thousanders using the alpine style of climbing and without supplementary oxygen.
Simone Moro is an Italian mountaineer known for having made first winter ascents of four of the fourteen eight-thousanders: Shishapangma in 2005, Makalu in 2009, Gasherbrum II in 2011, and Nanga Parbat in 2016. No other climber has made more first winter ascents of an eight-thousander in history. He has also summited Everest four times, in 2000, 2002, 2006, and 2010.
Alberto Iñurrategi Iriarte is a Basque Spanish mountaineer born in Aretxabaleta, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country (Spain). In the year 2002, he became the second Spaniard and Basque and the 10th person to climb the 14 eight-thousanders.
Carlos Soria Fontán is a Spanish mountaineer who trided to take up the challenge of becoming the oldest person in the world to reach the summits of the 14 highest peaks in the world. He is the only mountaineer to have ascended ten mountains of more than 8,000 meters after turning 60, and is the oldest person in history to have successfully climbed K2, Broad Peak (68), Makalu (69), Gasherbrum I (70), Manaslu, Kanchenjunga and Annapurna.
Michael Francis Parker was an Australian mountaineer and graphic designer. He climbed extensively in the Himalaya and Karakorum and summited five of the fourteen eight-thousanders. After ascending Makalu in 2009, he fell ill due to dissipated pulmonary and cerebral oedema and subsequently died in Kathmandu on 4 June, aged 36.
Chhang Dawa Sherpa : is a Nepalese mountaineer and the youngest climber till 2019 to summit the 14 highest peaks. Dawa and his brother Mingma Sherpa together hold the world record as "first brothers to summit the 14 highest peaks", a single record shared by the two.
Mingma Sherpa- Nepali: मिङ्मा शेर्पा is a Nepali mountaineer from Makalu Village, which is located in Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal. On May 20, 2011, at age 32, Sherpa became the first person from Nepal and the first South Asian to scale all 14 of the highest mountains. In the process, he set a new world record by becoming the first mountaineer to climb all 14 peaks on the first attempt. Mingma Sherpa and his brother, Chhang Dawa Sherpa, hold the Guinness World Records of the world's first two brothers to successfully summit the 14 eight thousanders
Atanas Georgiev Skatov was a Bulgarian mountaineer, vegan and agronomist in plant protection.
Nirmal Purja is a Nepal-born naturalised British mountaineer and a holder of multiple mountaineering world records. Prior to taking on a career in mountaineering, he served in the British Army with the Brigade of Gurkhas followed by the Special Boat Service (SBS), the special forces unit of the Royal Navy. Purja is notable for having climbed all 14 eight-thousanders in a record time of six months and six days with the aid of bottled oxygen. He was also the first to reach the summits of Mount Everest, Lhotse and Makalu within 48 hours. In 2021, Purja, along with a team of nine other Nepalese mountaineers, completed the first winter ascent of K2.
Tashi Lakpa Sherpa (born 1985) in Makalu Region, Sankhuwasabha District) is a Nepalese mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest eight times, Cho Oyu twice and other 7000 metre and 6000 metre peaks. He is currently on the mission of climbing Seven Summits and has already climbed five of them Everest, Denali, Elbrus, Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua.
Seven Summit Treks, is a commercial adventure operator, based in Kathmandu, Nepal. They are specialized in Eight-thousander of Nepal, China, and Pakistan. Established by four Sherpa brothers including Mingma Sherpa, Chhang Dawa Sherpa, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa and Pasang Phurba Sherpa. Mingma and his brother Chhang Dawa are the first siblings to have climbed all 8000ers, Mingma was the first and Dawa was the second South Asian to do so.
Kristin Harila is a Norwegian Saami mountaineer and former cross-country skier.
Dawa Ongju Sherpa- Nepali: दावा ओङ्जु शेर्पा is a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer. He has climbed 13 of the 14 highest peaks in the world.
Tenjen Sherpa, is a Nepalese mountaineer. Together with Kristin Harila he holds the record as the fastest climber to climb all 14 eight-thousanders. Tenjen Lama Sherpa is the 50th climber to have made successful ascents of all 14 eight thousanders.
