Manaslu (also known as Kutang) is the eighth highest mountain in the world, located in the Nepalese Himalaya. Manaslu is derived from the Sanskrit word Manasa and is translated as "Mountain of the Spirit".

Manaslu was first climbed on May 9, 1956 by Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu of a Japanese expedition.

• 1950 H.W. Tilman made a reconnaissance of Manaslu and believed there was a potential route to the top via the northeast.
• 1952 Japanese reconnaissance party reached 5275 m/17,300' on the east side.
• 1953 First attempt made by a Japanese team of 15 climbers to summit via the Northeast face. Three climbers made a summit attempt reaching 7750 m/25,425' before turning back.
• 1956 First ascent, by T. Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu.
• 1971 On May 17, Kazuharu Kohara and Motoki, part of an 11 man Japanese team, reached the summit via the NW spur.
• 1971 Kim Ho-Sup led a Korean expedition attempt via the Northeast. Kim Ki-Sup fell to his death on May 4th.
• 1972 An Austrian expedition led by Wolfgang Nairz made the first ascent via the SW face.
• 1972 Koreans attempt the Northeast Face route. On April 10, an avalanche buried their camp at 6,950 m/22,800', killing 16 climbers including 10 Sherpa climbers, the Korean expedition leader and Kazunari Yasuhisa from Japan.
• 1973 On April 22, Gerhard Schmatz, Gerhard, Sigi Hupfauer and a Sherpa climber reached the summit via the Northeast face.
• 1974 On May 4, an all female Japanese expedition makes the summit, becoming the first women to climb an 8,000 metre peak. Sadly, one climber died on May 5 when she fell between camps 4 and 5.
• 1975 On April 26, Gerald Garcia, Jeronimo Lopez and Sonam Sherpa of a Spanish expedition summit via the Northeast face.
• 1997 Charlie Mace makes the first American ascent.
• 2002 On May 13, five Americans and two Sherpas reach the summit.