While the Ulysses Trust supports a broad range of adventurous training and expeditions for both UK Reserve Forces and Cadets, some activities that we support are particularly noteable. One such example is scheduled to take place in September 2014 when a team of eight servicemen selected from all branches of the UK Armed Forces, including two Army Reservists, are to make an attempt on Makalu, considered to be one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the world.
Makalu is the world’s 5th highest mountain standing at 8463m, and is around 22km from Mount Everest. The UK team’s attempt will be made along the challenging South East ridge.
Stretching for over 10km, the South East ridge is the longest ridge on the mountain with only two recorded ascents, the first by a two man Japanese team (Ozaki/Tanaka) in 1970, and a subsequent ascent by Krissak, Schubert and Camprubi from a joint Spanish/Czech team in 1976.
Acknowledged by mountaineers as one of the great difficulties, the challenge is not to be underestimated. Indeed, Sir Edmund Hillary, famously the first person to summit Mount Everest with Tenzing in 1953, failed in his attempt to climb the South East ridge of Makalu just eight years later.
The aim of the expedition is not only to summit by the South East Ridge (three Service people summited via the still difficult normal route in 2008), but in doing so will contribute to the development of Service Personnel through participation in a challenging, high altitude mountaineering attempt in a remote location, thereby enhancing fitness, self reliance, initiative, courage and teamwork. These principles are what stand behind the Ulysses Trust’s support of all adventurous training for both Cadets and Reserve Forces. As such we are proud to be supporting this expedition and we wish the team every success.