Posted: Aug 31, 2009 11:14 am EDT
(MountEverest.net) Yes it's that time of the year again! Here goes the first edition of the brand new 2009 Everest and Himalaya fall list of expeditions.

In autumn 2006, Chinese soldiers shot Tibetan refugees very close to mountaineers on Cho Oyu. Last spring, the Chinese closed Tibet entirely to climbers. This spring, authorities opened the peaks again, but restricted permits. This fall, the mountains seem to be open in full.

Among the highlights; Basques on Everest Hornbein, Moro on the SW face of Cho Oyu, possible Korean history on Annapurna, ski/snowboard descent on Everest, ski-descent on Manaslu, and Andrew Lock for his last 8000er on Shisha.

Everest

Alberto Iñurrategi and Juan Vallejo are back on the north side of Everest for a second attempt on Hornbein Couloir.

28 members of The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will climb Everest from its south side. About eight team members will attempt a ski-snowboard descent from the summit.

History to be made on Annapurna? Patagonia explorer for Dhaulagiri

On Annapurna, South Korean Oh Eun-sun will most probably attempt her final 8000er, while Jae-Soo Kim, Go Mi-sun's climbing partner until she perished on Nanga Parbat this summer, will reportedly take Miss Go's picture up to the top.

Only one expedition is listed so far on Dhaulagiri; by Patagonian explorer Rodrigo Fica together with fellow Chileans Andres Guzman and Francisco Giordano.

Ski-descent on Manaslu; big action on Shisha

A number of commercial expeditions are headed for Manaslu, where a Chilean team hopes to ski up and down the mountain.

Shisha Pangma will get a number of attempts, including by Edurne Pasaban hoping for her 13th 8000er via the British route on the peak's South side and Andrew Lock who would become the first Australian 14x8000er summiteer. Andrew will climb via the normal route (northern side) with Polish Kinga Baranowska (for her 7th 8000er).

With seven of the peaks achieved twice, next stop is Shisha for 14x8000er summiteer Juan "Juanito" Oiarzabal, on the normal route sharing permit with fellow Spaniard Carlos Pauner. Joining forces again with American Nick Rice; Italian Mario Panzeri is headed back for Shisha's Main summit, after reaching the central top in 2005.

Two Romanians announced plans to attempt a new route on Shisha's South face; funding allowing.

Wild new route attempt on Cho Oyu

As usual, Cho Oyu will get a number of regular climbs by commercial and other expeditions prepping clients/members for Everest.

This year the peak promises to stand out though with Simone Moro's attempt for a new route on Cho Oyu's wild SW face.

Godspeed climbers!

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