Royal Navy mountaineers are returning to the Himalayas to scale one of the range’s most demanding peaks.

Mount Makalu is the challenge for Navy climbers as part of a Combined Services expedition – all 8,463 metres or 27,765ft of it, a mere 1,300ft or so lower than Mt Everest itself.

Members of the RN & RM Mountaineering Club might have been expected to take it easy in 2004 after the exertions on Everest 12 months ago.

But that is not on the agenda, according to club spokesman Lt Cdr Jon Asbridge.

“There are a number of exciting expeditions in the pipeline,” he said.

“Probably the most ambitious is one to climb Makalu this spring, which involves a large number of our members.

“It’s the fifth highest peak in the world. Our intended route up the south-east ridge was first climbed in 1970, but despite many attempts, only three further ascents have been made – and no-one to date has managed to climb the ridge directly.”

The Forces expedition aims to assault Makalu with the minimum of assistance from Sherpas and without supplementary oxygen.

If the climbers succeed, it will be the first true ascent of this long and technically very difficult ridge.

Their progress of the expedition can be followed on the internet at www.makalu2004.com

Less challenging climbs are planned by teams from training establishments HMS Sultan and Collingwood, who will travel to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro and stage a trekking expedition for novices to Mallorca between April 9 and 16.

At home, regular weekend climbs and hill walks are planned, as well as indoor training sessions at Calshot, near Southampton, and at HMS Neptune in Scotland.

Full details of the RNRMMC’s events for the year can be found at www.rnrmmc.org