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Imja Tse

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Imja Tse
Island Peak
An island in a sea of ice
Highest point
Elevation6,189 m (20,305 ft)[1]
Geography
Imja Tse is located in Nepal
Imja Tse
Imja Tse
Location in Nepal
LocationKhumbu, Nepal
Parent rangeKhumbu Himal
Climbing
First ascent1956 by a Swiss team
Easiest routeScramble/glacier/ice climb

Imja Tse, better known as Island Peak, is a mountain in Sagarmatha National Park of the Himalayas of eastern Nepal. The peak was named Island Peak in 1951 by Eric Shipton's party since it appears as an island in a sea of ice when viewed from Dingboche. The peak was later renamed in 1983 to Imja Tse but Island Peak remains the popular choice.[2] The peak is actually an extension of the ridge coming down off the south end of Lhotse Shar.

Imja Tse summit was first climbed in 1956 by a Swiss team as a training exercise in preparation for Mount Everest and Lhotse.

Imja Tse is the most popular of Nepal's so-called trekking peaks given its difficulty (alpine PD+) and accessibility especially when supported by a climbing guide and is the most frequently climbed peak in the Himalaya.

Negotiating crevasses in snowfield along the route to the summit of Imja Tse.

Climbing route

Sign indicating the route to Imja Tse high camp.
Climber taking the final few steps onto the 6,160 m (20,210 ft)[1] summit of Imja Tse (Island Peak) in Nepal, 2004

To climb Island Peak, one has the option of starting from a base camp at 5,087 metres (16,690 ft) called Pareshaya Gyab and starting the climb between 2 and 3 am. Another popular option is to ascend to High Camp at around 5,600 metres (18,400 ft) to reduce the amount of effort and time needed for summit day. However, adequate water supply and concerns about sleeping at a higher altitude may dictate starting from base camp. Base camp to high camp is basically a hike but just above high camp, some rocky steps require moderate scrambling and up through a broad open gully. At the top of the gully, glacier travel begins and proceeds up to a steep snow and ice slope. From here, fixed ropes may be set up by the guides for the strenuous ascent of nearly 100 metres (330 ft) to the summit ridge. The climb to the summit is somewhat difficult due to steep climbing. On top, while Mount Everest is a mere ten kilometres away to the north, the view will be blocked by the massive wall of Lhotse, towering 2,300 m (7,500 ft) above the summit.

Headwall crevasse

A substantial crevasse along most of the headwall leading to the summit ridge has sometimes caused teams to turn back. In April 2009, the Nepal Mountaineering Association tasked the Nepal Mountaineering Instructors' Association with installing stairs (ladders) at the crevasse[3] but these have not been required since then.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Nepal Mountaineering Association". web page. 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Imja Tse". Nepal Mountaineering Association. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  3. ^ "Newsletter of the Nepal Mountaineering Association". NMA. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
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