Api, Mountain peak in Darchula District, Nepal.
Api is a summit reaching 7,132 meters (23,400 feet) in the Gurans Himal section of the Himalayas, located in the Darchula District of far western Nepal. The mountain sits close to both the Indian and Tibetan borders, surrounded by deep valleys and very little visited terrain.
The first ascent of Api was completed on May 10, 1960, by K. Hirabayashi and Gyaltsen Norbu, who reached the top via the south face. For much of the 20th century, the mountain received very little attention from the climbing world due to the difficulty of reaching this remote corner of Nepal.
The name Api is believed to derive from a local word meaning father or grandfather, reflecting the reverence that communities in this part of Nepal have for the mountain. The surrounding valleys are home to people whose daily life and beliefs are closely tied to the Himalayan peaks that dominate their landscape.
Getting to the base of this mountain involves several days of trekking from the nearest road access, so planning for extra time is important. Any attempt on the summit itself calls for serious mountaineering experience, proper gear, and enough time to acclimatize gradually to the high altitude.
Api is one of the least visited seven-thousanders in the Himalayas, attracting far fewer expeditions each year than peaks in more accessible parts of Nepal. The mountain also sits at a point where several rivers have their origins, feeding water sources that communities far downstream depend on.
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