In 1971, Graeme Dingle joined a New Zealand expedition to attempt the North Face of Jannu, one of the most formidable mountains in the Himalayas.
Also known as Kumbhakarna, Jannu stands at 7,710 metres and is regarded as one of the world’s great technical peaks. Its steep faces and dramatic position in eastern Nepal have made it legendary within the mountaineering world.
At the time, Himalayan climbing was still in a pioneering era. Expeditions into the region were large undertakings involving months of planning, difficult access and long periods spent in remote alpine environments.
For Graeme and the New Zealand team, the expedition to Jannu represented another major step onto the international mountaineering stage.
The North Face itself had already developed a reputation as a serious and difficult objective, attracting some of the strongest climbers in the world.
Like many expeditions of that era, the significance of the climb extended beyond simply reaching a summit. These journeys demanded resilience, teamwork, preparation and the ability to adapt in extreme environments.
The Jannu expedition became another important chapter in Graeme Dingle’s climbing career during a period when New Zealand mountaineers were earning growing international respect through ambitious ascents in the Alps and Himalayas.
The spirit behind these expedition pushing into the unknown, facing challenges head-on and relying on the strength of the team around you continues to reflect the values behind the Graeme Dingle Foundation today.