Mt. Annapurna- 8,091 m
'...But where was the top-left or right? Stopping at every step, leaning on our axes, we tried to recover our breaths and to calm down our hearts, which were thumping as though they would burst. We knew we were there now, and that no difficulty could stop us. No need to exchange looks-each of us would have read the same determination in the other's eyes. A slight detour to the left, a few more steps-the summit ridge gradually came nearer-a few rocks to avoid. We dragged ourselves up. Could we possibly be there?
Yes!
A fierce and savage wind tore at us.
We were on top of Annapurna!'
- from ANNAPURNA, The First Conquest of an 8000 Metre Peak, by Maurice Herzog, 1950
Mt. Annapurna- 8,091 m
'...But where was the top-left or right? Stopping at every step, leaning on our axes, we tried to recover our breaths and to calm down our hearts, which were thumping as though they would burst. We knew we were there now, and that no difficulty could stop us. No need to exchange looks-each of us would have read the same determination in the other's eyes. A slight detour to the left, a few more steps-the summit ridge gradually came nearer-a few rocks to avoid. We dragged ourselves up. Could we possibly be there?
Yes!
A fierce and savage wind tore at us.
We were on top of Annapurna!'
- from ANNAPURNA, The First Conquest of an 8000 Metre Peak, by Maurice Herzog, 1950