Mathias Herzog, son of the legendary Maurice Herzog, recently trekked to the Annapurna Base Camp, retracing part of his father’s historic journey to the summit 75 years ago. Maurice Herzog became the first to conquer Annapurna Peak (8,091 meters) on June 3, 1950, marking a historic achievement three years before the first ascent of Mount Everest (Sagarmatha).
Mathias arrived in Narchyang, Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, on Friday and began his trek to the base camp the following day. During his visit, he laid a wreath at his father’s bust near Panchakunda Pond at the base camp, meditated, and expressed his awe at the rugged, undeveloped route Maurice had once taken. Tej Gurung, who accompanied Mathias, shared that Annapurna, once renowned as Nepal’s oldest revered peak, has faded from popular attention over the years.
In honor of his father’s pioneering legacy, the trekking route via Narchyang has been named the Maurice Herzog Trail. Mathias voiced his commitment to raising awareness of Annapurna’s natural beauty and pledged to return next year with his 82-year-old mother for a family trek. He also promised to translate Maurice Herzog’s iconic book, The Annapurna, into Nepali and other languages.
Access to Annapurna Base Camp starts from Pokhare Bagar, the center of Annapurna Rural Municipality, with a 22-km motorable road to Homkhola, followed by a scenic 21-km trek to the base camp. Mathias’ journey and his dedication to his father’s legacy have rekindled interest in Annapurna, once a legendary peak in Nepal’s climbing history.
Source: RSS
