Indian mountaineer Arjun Vajpai on third attempt of Makalu

Twenty one year old Arjun Vajpai hopes to summit Makalu this year after two consecutive failed attempts including the time when he fell short of rope just 100 m from the top.

Once the youngest Indian Everest summiteer (in 2010), Arjun Vajpai is giving a third try on Makalu (8,463m) this year, the world’s fifth highest mountain. He was devoid of the peak in 2013 and 2014 consecutively. In 2013, he was the youngest person ever to attempt Makalu but just 100m short of summit; he had to return. In the past he has climbed Lhotse and Manaslu, both in 2011.

Arjun aims to get closer to his dream of climbing 14 eight-thousanders by successfully summiting Makalu. He left for Kathmandu on 7^th April and flew to Tumlingtar on 11^th April. He started his trek from village Num (909m) and reached base camp of Makalu after a week through the Makalu-Barun National Park.

He arrived at the Makalu base camp (4848m) on 18^th April and as per his latest updates, he was looking for a better weather window to push up to the advance base camp. He is in touch with his family through a satellite phone.

Image courtesy: Arjun Vajpai