Cho Oyu
Cho Oyu, at 8,188 meters (26,864 ft), is the sixth-highest mountain in the world, situated 20 km west of Mount Everest. Meaning 'Turquoise Goddess' in Tibetan, it stands on the glaciated Nangpa La trade route between Nepal and Tibet.
Mountain Safety & Conditions Disclaimer: High-altitude climbing, glacial travel, and technical ascents entail severe objective risks including avalanches, serac collapses, rapid weather collapse, and altitude illness. Historical route descriptions and summit claims on Mountanity reflect documented archival sources and must not be used as live operational safety assessments. Local regulations, permits, and physical glacial topography change continuously.
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Geographical Setting & Topography
Mahalangur Himal, westernmost major peak of the Everest subrange on the Nepal-Tibet frontier.
Historic First Ascent
Date: October 19, 1954
Ascent Team: Herbert Tichy, Joseph Jöchler, Pasang Dawa Lama (Austrian Expedition)
Key Statistics & Topographic Figures
- Official Elevation
- 8,188 m (26,864 ft)
Topographic Survey
- Topographic Prominence
- 2,340 m
Relief Metric
- First Ascent
- October 19, 1954
Herbert Tichy, Joseph Jöchler, Pasang Dawa Lama (Austrian Expedition)
- Territory Codes
- NP / CN
Sovereignty
Archival Primary Source Quotations
“The mountains are calling, and we must honor their grandeur with truth and historical precision.”
Defined Alpine Terminology & Concepts
- Topographic Prominence
- The vertical elevation difference between a mountain summit and the lowest contour line encircling it that contains no higher summit.
- Death Zone
- The high-altitude region above 8,000m where atmospheric oxygen pressure is insufficient to sustain human life long-term.
Cho Oyu Mountain Weather Forecast
Detailed 14-Day Summit Window & Weather Timeline
Explore day-by-day summit push safety windows, wind shear analysis, and extended multi-day forecasts for Cho Oyu.
Explore Cho Oyu (8,188 m) in Interactive 3D
Inspect steep glacial walls, hanging seracs, ridge approaches, and elevation relief with 360° rotation and terrain tilt in WebGL.
Documented Climbing Routes (1)
Cho Oyu Northwest Face & Ridge (Normal Route)
The Northwest Ridge is the standard and most climbed route on Cho Oyu, approached from the Tibetan plateau via the Gyabrag Glacier. First climbed in 1954 by an Austrian expedition, the route features relatively moderate snow slopes of 30 to 40 degrees, punctuated by a single prominent technical crux known as the Ice Cliff at 6,700m. Above Camp 3, climbers cross the Yellow Band and emerge onto a vast, gently rising summit plateau.
Historical Expeditions (4)
1954 Austrian Cho Oyu Expedition
Organized on a modest private budget by Austrian geologist Herbert Tichy, this landmark small-team expedition made the first ascent of Cho Oyu (8,188m) on October 19, 1954, without supplemental oxygen, pioneering lightweight post-monsoon Himalayan climbing.
1985 Polish Cho Oyu Winter First Ascent
On February 12, 1985, Polish mountaineers Maciej Berbeka and Krzysztof Pankiewicz accomplished the historic first winter ascent of Cho Oyu (8,188m), pioneering a demanding new technical line via the Southwest Buttress in brutal sub-zero storms.
Project Possible 14/7: The 189-Day 14-Peak Odyssey
Led by former British Gurkha and Special Boat Service (SBS) operator Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja MBE, Project Possible 14/7 shattered the world speed record by summiting all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks in 6 months and 6 days (189 days), smashing the prior record of nearly eight years.
2019 Nirmal Purja Cho Oyu Expedition
Nirmal Purja launched the final phase of Project Possible by summiting Cho Oyu (8,188m) via the Northwest Ridge from Tibet on September 23, 2019, securing his twelfth 8,000-meter peak.
Summit Chronicles & Stories (4)
The Ice Warriors on the Turquoise Goddess: The 1985 Winter Ascent of Cho Oyu
On February 12, 1985, Polish mountaineers Maciej Berbeka and Krzysztof Pankiewicz accomplished the historic first winter ascent of Cho Oyu (8,188m) via a new technical Southwest Buttress.
Cho Oyu 1954: The Lightweight Triumph of Tichy, Jöchler, and Pasang Dawa Lama
On October 19, 1954, a tiny three-man Austrian team conquered Cho Oyu (8,188m) without supplemental oxygen in autumn, proving 8,000-meter giants could be climbed in lightweight alpine style.
Cho Oyu: Opening the Final Tibetan Phase of the Project
Nirmal Purja attacks Cho Oyu from Tibet, conquering the Turquoise Goddess at lightning speed to launch Phase Three.
Project Possible 14/7: The 189-Day Himalayan Odyssey
How Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja and his Nepali team climbed all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks in 189 days, redefining the boundaries of human endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cho Oyu
What is the verified elevation of Cho Oyu?
Cho Oyu has an official elevation of 8,188 meters (26,864 feet) above sea level.
When was Cho Oyu first climbed?
Cho Oyu was first summited on October 19, 1954 by Herbert Tichy, Joseph Jöchler, Pasang Dawa Lama (Austrian Expedition).
What mountain range and territories encompass Cho Oyu?
Cho Oyu is situated in Solukhumbu District, Tibet Autonomous Region across territory codes NP, CN.
Documented Sources & Archival Citations
- Cho Oyu: By Favour of the Gods(Herbert Tichy / Methuen)
Supporting claim: Account of the 1954 Austrian small-team first ascent
Accessed/Documented: 1957 - Himalayan Database(Elizabeth Hawley Archive)
Supporting claim: Verified elevation 8,188m and standard route statistics
Accessed/Documented: 2026