Langtang Lirung - East Face

The highest mountain in the Langtang range, close to both Kathmandu and Shisha Pangma, Langtang Lirung is a spectacular 7000m peak. Anyone who has done the Langtang trek and reached its endpoint at Kyanjin Ri, above Kyanjin Gompa, can only have been awed by its huge east face.

The mountain has received a fair amount of attention over the decades, with many expeditions to its various ridges - and many deaths, too. The most famous would have been Tomasz Humar during a solo attempt on the South Face, back in 2009. The East Face, though, huge and very serious, constantly pummeled by avalanches, has only rarely been attempted. It was finally climbed in the fall of 2024 by a very strong Czech-Slovak team. Tragically, Ondrej Húserka died during the descent after falling into a crevasse.

Free download link - medium resolution, personal use only (no printing allowed)

Route List

1: Southeast Ridge (1981 Japanese Route), H. Abe, A. Phuri, Y. Kimura, H. Tomoaki, M. Arai, T. Yoshida, 1981
2: Ondrova Hvezda, M. Holecek, O. Huserka†, 10/2024
3: Northeast Ridge (1978 Japanese Route), S. Wada, P. Tsering, A. Ban, 10/1978
4: Northeast Face of Kimshung, F. Cazzanelli, G. Vidoni, B. Zoerer, L. Waldner, 10/2025
5: West Face (Attempt), F. Cazzanelli, G. Corona, E. Favre, 10/2016
6: South-Southeast Ridge of Kimshung Sar (Attempt), R. Bovard, E. Favre, S. Stradelli, 10/2024

Updates

May 6, 2025: Re-processed base image to have more accurate colors.

Oct 26, 2025: Updated with the 2024 attempt on Kimshung Sar's SSE ridge and the successful FA of Kimshung (6 days ago!) by Francois Cazzanelli and team.

Sources and Credits

• Marek Holecek
  
• “Kimshung: Southwest Face Attempt,” Giampaolo Corona, Rodolphe Popier, AAJ, 2017
  
• “Langtang Lirung East Ridge,” AAJ, 1979
  
• “Langtang Lirung,” Toshiyuki Yoshida, AAJ, 1982
  
• “Kimshung Sar, South-Southeast Ridge,” Lindsay Griffin, AAJ, 2025
  
• Explorersweb
• Francois Cazzanelli
• Katie Sauter