Dentist makes it to mountain summit

To see video of the ascent click here.

MIKE SCOTT

Dr Julian Haszard crosses a river on his way to Manaslu base camp.

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Taranaki man Julian Haszard has reached the summit of Himalayan mountain Manaslu (8156m), the world's eighth highest mountain.

To see video of the ascent click here.

Climbing to raise $27,000 for his Nepal-based dental aid organisation SmileHigh, Dr Haszard described the pinnacle as "the scariest place I have ever been in my life".

"It was not a walk in the park. It really made you think but I am glad I went to the true summit," he said.

Speaking from the Himalayan Experience base camp via satellite phone, Dr Haszard described the apex as an unstable snow cornice with massive drops with standing room for one climber at a time.

"It was right on the edge. It was really out there, probably more out there than Everest."

Dr Haszard summited Mt Everest in 2004.

Despite the difficulties the Himalayan Experience team were in good form, he said.

Starting from camp four (7300m) at 4am the advanced group reached the summit at about 9am.

Dr Haszard was back at base camp by 5.30pm, exhausted but delighted.

"I'm really really happy right now. I am happy with how SmileHigh went and with the summit."

Shrugging off the scary summit, frozen toes and rough sleeping, Dr Haszard said a future high-altitude climb was a real possibility.

However, a shower and comfortable bed in Kathmandu was the priority.

Dr Haszard's SmileHigh programme, which included a team of volunteer international dentists, recently completed a successful clinic in the remote village of Samagon which sits in the shadow of Manaslu.

 Taranaki Daily News web producer Mike Scott recently returned from Nepal where he was documenting the work of SmileHigh.