Duhhh, Wrong Mountain

Definitive proof that climbers are simply incapable of reading maps comes with the news that for 22 years they've been climbing the wrong Mera Peak in Nepal. Mera, the tallest of the Nepalese 'trekking peaks' at 6654 metres isn't really where it is, at all, if you see what we mean. Really it's about five miles away says a Finnish-American team which includes Clyde Soles of American climbing magazine Rock and Ice.

The mountain always assumed to be Mera and climbed by thousands is in fact some 200 meters lower. The team set off to make the first ascent of the 'real' Mera this April, but bad conditions prevented them from summiting meaning that the mountain is almost certainly still unclimbed.

All over the world, 'Mera sumiteers' will be downgrading their altitude record by 200 meters and muttering darkly into their mountaineering beards. These things matter yer know. For the full fascinating story behind the mountain that never quite was where it was take a shifty at this web site.