Anurag Nallaveli on climbing Dhaulagiri and Manaslu peaks without supplemental oxygen
Anurag Nallaveli on climbing Dhaulagiri and Manaslu peaks without supplemental oxygen
On 9 April, Anurag Nallaveli summited the Dhaulagiri mountain range in Nepal, the seventh highest mountain in the world at 8167 meters above sea level. In September 2021, he climbed the Manaslu peak at 8163 meters above sea level. Hyderabadi completed both missions without using supplemental oxygen. As a note of caution, it is imperative to add that research and training are needed to understand how one reacts to high altitudes without supplemental oxygen.
Anurag was inspired not to rely on supplemental oxygen when he read the experiences of climber Ed Viesters: “The book No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World’s 14 Highest Peaks (by Ed Wiesters and David Roberts) inspired me.” Anurag went through high altitude training in Oregon, USA, and says, “Each climber’s body adapts differently to altitude conditions. I read and trained before adopting this approach. Carrying an oxygen cylinder or bottle would have meant more weight. Climbers have to return to base in case the oxygen equipment fails.
Anurag Nallaveli | photo credit: special arrangement
Anurag moved to the United States in 2015 to pursue a masters in Information Technology and later started working as a software engineer. “While living in Hyderabad, I was no outsider except playing cricket with friends.”
A backpacking trip with a friend was a turning point in 2018. Soon, he transformed into “a weekend warrior,” flying from his base in Michigan on Friday evening and returning to work on Monday morning.
The pandemic further changed his lifestyle. He was on a snowboarding trip in California when the US imposed a lockdown: “A friend and I had to stay at Love Creek Sanctuary in California where we checked in to Airbnb accommodation; we didn’t know how long the lockdown would last. The managing couple allowed us to stay and asked if we could work with the animals. We learned a lot. We also had our work laptops and we logged in remotely.”
Since then, the sanctuary has been Anurag’s base and his abandoned Michigan apartment. Intermittently during the pandemic, he went hiking in Colorado and connected with mountaineering enthusiasts. A growing interest in mountaineering expeditions took him to training facilities in Oregon and Colorado. He trained for six months and in May 2021 climbed Denali, the highest mountain range in North America. “The campaign was expected to be of three weeks duration, but I completed it in 11 days. I wanted to do more.”
Anurag Nallaveli captured a surprising moment during the campaign. photo credit: special arrangement
They took further training to understand how much they could push themselves in difficult situations. Hiking and mountaineering expeditions also changed their dietary habits.
Anurag turns vegetarian, abstains from added sugar and follows intermittent fasting when he is not on an expedition. He mentions that he was formerly a meat eater and social drinker.
Mountaineering has also taught him to live with less things: “I don’t have an apartment or a car in America anymore. I travel from place to place for hiking and expeditions and temporarily staying with friends and family. Living out of backpacks, I’ve realized how little we really need to live. “Working remotely has also helped the nomadic lifestyle.
Anurag is now in Hyderabad to spend time with his family and is looking forward to more mountaineering expeditions from September. While descending from Dhaulagiri, he lost his bag and a glove and suffered frostbite. “I need to rest and recover before next season.”