The long descent after Makalu

The long descent after Makalu

Avalanches on Makalu are rare. The pyramidal mountain rises only 12 miles southeast of its more famous cousin, Mount Everest, in the Himalayas. At nearly 28,000 feet above sea level, it is the fifth-highest peak on Earth and more than three times higher than Utah’s Mount Olympus. Temperatures on Makalu, especially at higher elevations, often dip below zero in climbing season, and are as cold as -40 degrees in winter. And it’s very dry, a difficu…