Gau Ming-Ho (Chinese: 高銘和; pinyin: Gāo Mínghé; born 1949), also known as Makalu Gau after the 5th highest peak in the world, is a Taiwanese mountaineer. He was a leader of a Taiwanese expedition to Mount Everest during the 1996 Mount Everest disaster .

In the spring of 1996, Makalu Gau, 41, and Chen Yu Nan, 36, were poised to make an attempt on the summit of Mount Everest. By May 9, the pair had reached Camp III (24,000 feet) on Everest's South Col route. With their Sherpa teammates, the Chinese climbers were hoping to reach the summit by the 11th.

The 1996 Mount Everest disaster occurred on 10–11 May 1996 when eight climbers caught in a blizzard died on Mount Everest while attempting to descend from the summit.

On May 10th, 1996 at approximately 3:00 pm, Makalu Gau summitted Mt. Everest. "From the summit, my first photograph was an unobstructed view of the Himalayan Mountain Range," Gau said, but the next shot, taken just 10 minutes later, was a precursor to what became a nightmare. Of the second shot, he said, "so strange the sky seems."

Sep 1, 2023 · Gau Ming-Ho, also known as Makalu Gau, draws his name from the fifth highest peak in the world, Makalu. He is from Taiwan and has made his mark as a proficient mountaineer. Notably, he led the Taiwanese expedition to Mount Everest during the ill-fated 1996 Mount Everest catastrophe .

May 6, 2018 · Even though Makalu Gau lost his nose, fingers and toes in the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster, he remains determined even today to accomplish his task of photographing the top 100 peaks of China

May 13, 2008 · Three climbing teams -- Mountain Madness, led by Scott Fischer; Adventure Consultants, led by Rob Hall; and a national Taiwanese expedition, led by Makalu Gau -- depart Base Camp for Camp Two....

Taiwanese mountaineer Makalu Gau came close to death while climbing Mount Everest in 1996 after a sudden snowstorm hit on descent. The disaster resulted in the death of eight other climbers and Gau had to have his fingers, toes, nose and part of his feet amputated.

Makalu Gau In 1996, Gau was making his second attempt on Everest, leading the Taiwanese National Expedition. In his youth he joined the Taiwan Mountaineering Association, learning snow, ice...

Oct 4, 2024 · Sherpas left Makalu Gau (at 8,230 m/27,000 ft by Gau's account) with Fischer and Lopsang when Gau, too, became unable to proceed. Eventually, Lopsang was persuaded by Fischer to descend and leave him and Gau.