Ganesh III Attempt. By the summer of 1981, Ganesh III (7132 meters, 23,400 feet) was still unclimbed despite two Japanese attempts in 1980 and another in the spring of 1981. An expedition of ten Japanese and two Nepalese, led by Hiroyasu Shirakabe, attempted the south ridge, the same route on which the Japanese spring expedition of 1980 got to 6750 meters. They placed four high camps. On May 5 they got to 6800 meters (22,310 feet) but had to give up because of a lack of snow pickets and fixed rope and because of the onset of the monsoon.

Michael J. Cheney, Himalayan Club and Elizabeth Hawley