Cho Oyu was the Himalayan eight-thousander first climbed in 1954 by an Austrian expedition.
The successful climbers were Herbert Tichy, Joseph Jöchler and Sherpa Pasang Dawa Lama. Their route approached the mountain from the Tibetan side, and the ascent took place on 19 October 1954. At 8,188 metres, Cho Oyu is the sixth-highest mountain in the world.
Its name is often translated as “Turquoise Goddess,” although interpretations vary. The mountain stands near the Nangpa La, a historic pass linking Tibet and Nepal, but the pass is not the summit route itself.
Cho Oyu is frequently described as one of the more accessible 8,000-metre peaks because of its relatively straightforward northwest route. That reputation does not make it safe: extreme altitude, avalanches and severe weather remain major hazards.