Pumori

Pumori (7,161m), whose name means 'Unmarried Daughter' in Sherpa language (or 'Mountain Daughter' — named by George Mallory), is a strikingly beautiful pyramid-shaped peak in the Mahalangur Himal, located approximately 8 km west of Mount Everest on the Nepal-Tibet border. From the classic Kala Patthar viewpoint, Pumori's dramatic south face forms one of the most photographed mountain silhouettes in the world, often mistaken for Everest itself.

First climbed on May 17, 1962 by Gerhard Lenser of a German-Swiss expedition via the southeast face, Pumori has become a popular objective for mountaineers seeking a technically challenging 7,000m peak. The standard southwest ridge route involves steep snow and ice climbing (sustained 40-60° slopes) with significant objective hazards including avalanche and serac fall. The mountain has claimed several lives, including a tragic 2015 avalanche that struck during the April Nepal earthquake.

Despite its technical demands, Pumori's proximity to the Everest infrastructure makes it one of the more logistically accessible 7,000m peaks — expeditions typically stage from Everest Base Camp through the Khumbu Icefall or approach via the Lho La. The summit offers one of the most spectacular views in the Himalaya: a direct line-of-sight panorama of Everest's west ridge, Lhotse, Nuptse, and the entire upper Khumbu glacier system. An alternative viewpoint for trekkers is the summit of Kala Patthar (5,644m), where Pumori dominates the foreground. Best climbing seasons: spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October).