Battogtokh Altangerel from Mongolia has become the first person from his country to summit Mount Makalu, the 5th highest mountain in the world.
The 41-year-old climber stood atop the 8463m peak at 10.50 am on Monday, according to expedition organizer Lakpa Sherpa of 8K Expedition. Altangerel is the first person from Mongolia to scale the peak, according to the Himalayan Database.
Besides Altangerel, several others climbers including Lon Patrick Murphy (US), Kami Sherpa, and Pem Lakpa Sherpa also reached the top, while many others are enroute to the summit, and are expected to summit in next few days .
Pem Lakpa, 17, has become the youngest Nepali to climb the peak, according to expedition organizers.
Makalu is Altangerel’s first successful ascent of a peak above 8,000 meters. The climber hopes to climb the world’s all 14 8000er under his pet project—- ‘Mongolian Dream 14 Project’.
A total of 39 climbers have obtained a climbing permit to climb Makalu for the ongoing spring season, according to the Department of Tourism.