Shishapangma, located in the Himalayas on the border of Nepal and Tibet, is one of the world's 14 highest peaks, standing at a height of 26,335 feet (8,013 meters). Known as the "crest above the grassy plains," Shishapangma is a popular destination for mountaineers and adventurers from around the world. It is also known as Gosainthān.
Location
Shishapangma is located in the Himalayas on the border of Nepal and Tibet. The mountain is part of the Langtang Himal range and is situated about 14 miles (23 kilometers) north of the Nepal-Tibet border. The closest major city to Shishapangma is Kathmandu, which is located about 130 miles (210 kilometers) to the south.
Shishapangma: At a Glance
Location: Himalayas, Nepal/Tibet
Height: 26,335 feet (8,013 meters)
Mountain Range: Langtang Himal range
First Ascent: 1964 by a Chinese expedition
Interesting Fact: Shishapangma is the only 8,000-meter peak located entirely within Tibet.
Facts about Shishapangma
Shishapangma is the only 8,000-meter peak located entirely within Tibet. \
The mountain is also known as Gosainthān in Nepali and Xixabangma in Chinese.
The mountain was the last 8,000-meter peak to be climbed (due to permit restrictions in Tibet).
Shishapangma is a relatively young mountain, with geologists estimating its age at around 10 million years.
The name Shishapangma comes from the Tibetan language, meaning "crest above the grassy plains."
Langtang Himal Range
The Langtang Himal range is a section of the Himalayas that includes several notable peaks in addition to Shishapangma itself. The range stretches for over 1,000 kilometers and includes peaks such as Langtang Lirung, Yala Peak, and Gangchenpo.
Climbing History
Shishapangma has a relatively short history of climbing, with the first recorded ascent of the mountain in 1964 by a Chinese expedition that was by Xu Jing.
Since then, the mountain has become a popular destination for climbers from around the world, with several routes to the summit ranging in difficulty from relatively easy (some believe it to be the easiest of the 8,000-meter peaks) to extremely challenging.
At this point, around thirty-one people have died on the mountain's slope. This includes famed American mountaineer Alex Lowe who died in an avalanche in 1999.
The most common route up the mountain is the Northern Route. It's possible to drive to base camp at 16,400 (compare this with how difficult it is to access the K2 base camp, which takes 14 days of walking).
Other notable ascents include Piotr Morawski's first calendar winter ascent in 2005 and Anatoli Boukreev's solo ascent in 1996. Also notable is Ueli Steck's 2011 solo ascent of the southwest face in 10.5 hours.
Mountains Nearby
In addition to Shishapangma, the Himalayas are home to several other notable peaks. Some of the most popular include:
Mount Everest
Located about 250 miles (400 kilometers) to the east of Shishapangma, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, standing at a height of 29,029 feet (8,848 meters).
Cho Oyu
Located about 45 miles (72 kilometers) to the west of Shishapangma, Cho Oyu is the sixth-highest mountain in the world, standing at a height of 26,864 feet (8,188 meters).
Lhotse
Located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the east of Mount Everest, Lhotse is the fourth-highest mountain in the world, standing at a height of 27,940 feet (8,516 meters).