A team of five Russian climbers has safely descended from Manaslu after completing a bold alpine-style ascent of the mountain’s rarely climbed Southwest Face, in what mountaineering observers are calling one of the most significant Himalayan achievements of the year.
According to ExplorersWeb, the climbers — Andrey Vasiliev, Sergey Kondrashkin, Natalia Belyankina, Kirill Eizeman, and Vitaly Shipilov — reached the 8,163-meter summit of Manaslu on October 22, after several weeks of acclimatization and preparation on the mountain’s normal route. They then moved to the remote southwest side to begin their main objective, a new or variant line on the left flank of the Southwest Face, a section of the mountain known for its technical difficulty and exposure to avalanches.
The ascent was carried out in alpine style, meaning the team climbed in a single continuous push without fixed high camps, Sherpa support, or supplemental oxygen. This lightweight approach, often regarded as the purest form of high-altitude mountaineering, left the climbers fully self-reliant during their multi-day climb and descent.
Dangerous Descent
However, the descent quickly turned dangerous. Deteriorating weather brought heavy snow and poor visibility, forcing the team to abandon its planned descent route. The climbers instead moved toward the more established Messner/Tyrolean route, a line first used in earlier expeditions decades ago. At one point, the team was reportedly stuck around 7,460 meters, struggling to locate a safe way down toward a target elevation of 7,100 meters.
As communication from the team became sporadic, concerns rose among other climbers and online followers. The last messages sent by expedition leader Andrey Vasiliev indicated exhaustion and difficult navigation on steep, icy terrain. “It was a dangerous descent with no margin for error,” ExplorersWeb reported, citing updates from the expedition’s satellite tracker.
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Finally Survived
By October 27, relief arrived with confirmation that all five climbers had reached base camp at the Thulagi Glacier, southwest of Manaslu. “They are down and safe,” ExplorersWeb confirmed in its latest update, ending days of uncertainty.
The Russian team’s achievement marks a rare success on the Southwest Face of Manaslu, a daunting wall that has seen only a handful of ascents since the mountain was first climbed in 1956. Most of the 8,000-meter expeditions today favor the northeast “normal” route, which, while still dangerous, offers a more predictable climb and easier access to rescue support. In contrast, the southwest side is remote, technical, and highly exposed to objective hazards like rockfall and serac collapse.
Golden Era
Mountaineering historian Lindsay Griffin of the Alpine Club described the feat as “a throwback to the golden era of exploration on 8,000-meter peaks.” Speaking to Himalayan reporters, he said, “The Russian climbers demonstrated the same spirit of self-sufficiency that defined the pioneers of Himalayan climbing. Doing this on Manaslu’s Southwest Face, in alpine style, is a tremendous statement of skill and commitment.”
Nepal’s Department of Tourism also acknowledged the climb, confirming that the Russian team had obtained a legal climbing permit for the autumn season. Officials said they were awaiting a debriefing report from the expedition to verify whether the team’s route qualifies as a new line on the mountain.
Manaslu, the eighth-highest peak in the world, continues to draw both commercial and independent climbers each year. Yet, the recent Russian ascent stands out in an era when many 8,000-meter climbs rely heavily on fixed ropes, supplemental oxygen, and logistical support.
With all team members now safe, further details, photos, and route maps are expected to be published once they return to Kathmandu in the coming days. Their climb, already being hailed as one of the boldest Himalayan undertakings of 2025, reinforces a timeless truth of mountaineering: that reaching the summit is only half the journey — coming down safely is the real victory. (Wage Erlangga)
