Darn Tough

Cholatse (6 440 m / 21 129 ft)

Permits were first issued in spring 1982 and the peak was first scaled soon after. It was the last formally named but unclimbed peak in the Khumbu region. 22 April Vern Clevenger, Galen Rowell, John Roskelley and Bill O’Connor reached the summit via the South West Ridge. The South West Ridge is perhaps the easiest route on the peak and it was only repeated in 1993, again in 2005 and rarely since then. The South East Ridge was first climbed in same year. The North East Face was successfully scaled in 1984 and the first solo ascent was accomplished on April 15, 2005 by Ueli Steck. Remarkably he reached the summit via a direct line in a 37 hour push from base camp with a single night’s bivouac on the face.