Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world : it also belongs to the Himalayas and falls within the famous 8000m peaks, that is, among the 14 peaks that exceed 8,000 meters in height. Even if it is not as famous as Everest , K2 and the other mountains found in these parts, Dhaulagiri has a particularity that sets it apart . It is in fact the highest mountain located in a single nation: it is located entirely in Nepal.
The ascents to the summit of Dhaulagiri began in the 1960s and since then several climbers have decided to venture along the walls of this mountain. Definitely impervious to conquer, Dhaulagiri is not as dangerous as other destinations in the Himalayas and fortunately fewer adventurers have died trying to reach the top. This does not mean, however, that it is an undertaking within anyone’s reach: even Dhaulagiri has many difficulties to face and the unexpected must always be considered.
How high is the Dhaulagiri?
With its 8,167 meters of altitude, Dhaulagiri falls within the famous 8000m peaks and was discovered early, in 1808. Initially, it was thought to be the highest mountain in the world and for 30 years it has earned this unjust record. However, when Kangchenjunga was discovered this mountain lost some of its fame and over the years it has become a more accessible mountain for experienced mountaineers. Even today, however, reaching the top of this mountain remains a dangerous and restricted undertaking, which must never be underestimated.
Trials and the Dhaulagiri ski descent
An enterprise that moved and that many followed with bated breath was the one carried out by Carlalberto Cimenti together with Davide Gerlero and the Swiss Matthias Koenig. Their goal was more than appreciable: to bring the photography of Luca Borgogni, who lost his life on the Matterhorn and had a great project, to the top. He wanted to climb the seventh highest mountain in the world and then snowboard down. Luca received a loan to go to Nepal and fulfill his dream, but he didn’t have time to do it because the Matterhorn set a trap for him and cost him his life. Part of that funding, however, was turned over to his friend Davide Gerlero and it was he who organized everything.
The mountaineers left on August 30, 2017 and in part managed to realize their dream: the summit was reached and they even managed to descend on skis. They did not take home the record because they did not make it to complete the complete descent of Dhaulagiri but they left the photograph of their companion on the summit. Their friend is now there, in the only place in the world where he would have dreamed of being if that accident on the Matterhorn had never happened. An undertaking that mixes passion and affection, remembering that the world of mountaineering is not just made up of sports but hides much more intense and profound emotions than a simple climb.
