subject: What Excatly Is The Annapurna [print this page] Annapurna On the third of June, 1950, two members of a French mountain-climbing expedition to the Himalaya Mountains, the highest in the world, climbed to the top of Annapurna. This is a mountain in the kingdom of Nepal, in Asia. It is 26,500 feet above sea level. Annapurna was the highest peak that men had ever climbed, though since that time they have climbed even higher. (See the article on Mt. Everest.) These men were Maurice Herzog, leader of the group, and Louis Lachenal.
The other members of the party were Lionel Terray, Gaston Rebuffat, Marcel Ichac (the cameraman), Jacques Oudot (the surgeon), Francis de Noyelle, Jean Couzy, and Marcel Schatz, all Frenchmen; and eight Sherpas (natives of Nepal, and professional mountaineers) named Ang-Tharkey (the leader), Ang- Tsering, Dawatondu, Sarki, Foutharkey, Aila, Angawa, and Adjiba. When the little group started back down the mountain, they had lots of trouble. It is very cold at the top of a high mountain. Many of the men suffered frozen feet and hands. Herzog lost his gloves while climbing down from the summit, which is almost the worst thing that can happen. The party was caught in an avalanche (a big snowslide) at one time, and the men in it were almost killed.
The doctor had to cut off most of Herzog's fingers and toes, because they had been frostbitten. Some of the men had to be carried most of the way. They were all brave men, and when they reached home they were given many honors. Annapurna, in the Nepalese language, means "The Goddess of the Harvests."
