Sierra Blogging Post Archives

The Nepalese people have long reported seeing ancient manuscripts fluttering out of a cave system in Mustang, (north-central Nepal) but no one has ever been able to reach them. Until now.

The caves, which reside in cliffs 700 feet above the ocean, were thought to be inaccessible due to the height and instability of the rock.

Leave it to National Geographic explorers to find a way to go where archaeologists can't. Last summer, NG brought in a couple of serious mountaineers, seven-time Everest summiter Pete Athans and climber Renan Ozturk, to explore the caves and search for the ancient manuscripts.


“It was the first time in my career that I got to use climbing techniques for something other than mountaineering,” Athans says.

Athans and Ozturk eventually found the manuscripts in question - over 8,000 15th century folios tucked away in a large dome shaped cavern - but it wasn't easy. A mere 328 feet took them 14 hours to complete at one point during the expedition. And they were constantly contending with unstable rock and crumbling walls.

“We took some serious risks,” says Ozturk, who at one point used his body as an anchor while hoisting others into the caves. “I don’t think anyone other than our team is going to be cruising into these caves again anytime soon.

Now that the manuscripts have been recovered, thanks to the efforts of these extraordinary climbers, the caves will be preserved.

Read the full story on the National Geographic Adventure Blog and shop Sierra Trading Post for all your climbing gear needs at 35-70% off!