Venturing into the Kangchenjunga region of eastern Nepal, a team comprising Hidesuke Taneishi and Daiki Yamamoto recently returned from their ambitious expedition. Their target was the north face of Pholesobi Peak, standing tall at 6,554 meters according to Mapcarta, a peak that has yet to be conquered.
Despite their determination, Taneishi and Yamamoto had to halt their ascent at 6,200 meters due to health issues faced by Yamamoto. Expressing his disappointment on social media, Taneishi mentioned, ‘It was a shame. We experienced exhilarating climbs on a steep face reminiscent of Alaska’s mountains.’ However, the duo remains optimistic, planning a return next year to complete their quest.
Yamamoto described the face they tackled as a towering 1,400-meter wall, progressively steepening as they aimed for the summit. Although he managed to descend unaided, Yamamoto’s health concerns led to his hospitalization immediately after the expedition, emphasizing the need for recovery before a potential return to the mountains.
The Kangchenjunga region has become a focal point for Japanese mountaineering endeavors this season. Various teams have attempted scaling several unclimbed 6,000-meter peaks. Takahiro Kaneko, Saki Terada, and Takahiro Ishikawa made an endeavor on Sharpu VI, reaching 6,000 meters before encountering an insurmountable section, compelling their retreat. Despite this setback, they successfully summited Tha Nagphu (5,980m), a subsidiary peak along their route.
Prior to this, a team from Meiji University’s alpine club set their sights on Anidesh Chuli (6,960m), known as the ‘White Wave’ due to its steep, ice and snow-covered slopes. Though the attempt didn’t culminate in success, these Japanese climbers continue to push the boundaries of exploration in this captivating region.
Read More: Japanese Climbers Fall Short on Sharpu VI but Successfully Summit Another Unclimbed Peak
