Lhotse

 

Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world, was first climbed on May 18, 1956, by a Swiss team led by Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss. The peak is part of the Everest massif and is located on the border between Nepal and Tibet.

The first attempt to climb Lhotse was made in 1955 by a British team led by Tom Bourdillon. However, the expedition was unsuccessful due to bad weather and technical difficulties. The following year, the Swiss team decided to attempt the peak from the southeast ridge, which was believed to be less dangerous than the western and northern routes.

The Swiss team consisted of four climbers: Fritz Luchsinger, Ernst Reiss, Raymond Lambert, and Tenzing Norgay. Tenzing Norgay had previously summited Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. The team set up base camp at 17,600 feet and established four higher camps before reaching the summit.

The climb was not without its challenges, as the team had to navigate through difficult terrain and deal with high altitude sickness. However, the climbers were determined and well-prepared, and they successfully reached the summit at 1:30 pm on May 18, 1956.

The first ascent of Lhotse was a significant achievement in the history of mountaineering, as it demonstrated that the peak was climbable and opened up new possibilities for climbers looking to conquer the highest mountains in the world. Since then, Lhotse has been climbed many times by various expeditions, and the southeast ridge remains the most popular route to the summit.

In conclusion, the first ascent of Lhotse on May 18, 1956, by a Swiss team led by Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss was a significant achievement in the history of mountaineering. The climb demonstrated that the peak was climbable and opened up new possibilities for climbers looking to conquer the highest mountains in the world.