Ski Expedition on Manaslu 2007: between sanity and success

The three Dynafit sportspeople Benedikt Böhm, Sebastian Haag and mountain guide Nicolas Bonnet considered a speed ascent of Manaslu (8,163m) to be a very ambitious project. Speed means: no breaks, maximum tempo on the ascent and on the descent. On Manaslu, "speed" meant 3,263 metres of ascent from base camp to summit - with no high camp, no supply station, and no markers or tracks laid out to the summit! And then a descent on skis. After waiting it out for days at base camp due to the heavy snow, the athletes could at last begin their speed ascent on 3/10/2007. After only 3 hours, the trio were already at 6,200 metres - the climb continued upward at temperatures of -30 degrees. Strong willpower is a must if you don't want to give up. But, at an altitude of 7,400 metres, only 150 vertical metres below the secure shoulder of the Manaslu, the speed attempt had to be abandoned due to the very high danger of avalanches. It was the right decision: sanity won out on the day for these ski mountaineers. Success comes as a result of human strength.