원정 개요

C2 changed from first place because dangerous: 1st camp at 5500m, 2nd made on 22 April at 5600m.

25-29 April heavy snowfall and 29th big avalanche destroyed supply dump above C2. 6 out of 45 days had good weather. C4 not permanent camp but transit camp and its food moved up to C5.

3 members [Canals, Font and Aymerich] to C5 on 6th May. Canals to C2 down on 9th May because lost his overboot.

8th May bad weather and very windy at C5; blew out Canals' overboot from near entrance to tent. 10th May Font and Aymerich arrived at 7600m in summit attempt in early morning and returned to C5; about 9 or 10 am turned back because clouds brought snow at 7 pm. By walkie-talkie said they were not feeling well, no food and fuel and if weather on 11th permitted, they would come down.

11th May 6 am radio contact no answer and weather continued bad: 1m snow at C2 previous night and on 11th. Those in C2 intended to go down to get more food but fresh snow and track lost so could not go down; in C2 also bad with no food, 2 fuel cartridges and one sick man. All camps almost exhausted in food and fuel supplies after avalanche had destroyed important supplies. People in C2 and C5 only; C3 very dangerous place and only to sleep and leave quickly. Nice only in BC, so would have had to leave mountain very soon in any case.

12th May morning weather good and clear but at noon snowfall again. In am can see 150m mark of huge avalanche to C5 and 200m more below C5=350m total avalanche trail. C5 not to be seen and no movement on mountain. On 12th all down from C2 to BC for food and fuel for rescue party to retrieve bodies, leaving C2 tents to reoccupy them on 13th. 13th May a rescue party arrived 5300m and then bad weather continued and had to return to BC. 14th afternoon more bad weather and rescue cancelled and left BC for KTM.

Sama under 40cm snow, potato crop ruined and no food supply available there. Could buy more food only on 18th when got to lower village and even here difficult to buy eggs because chicken disease had killed off most chickens. Arrived KTM 23 May.

Manaslu not difficult: avalanche danger but in good weather it can be climbed route=NE Face. C4 and C5 more to left than usual because more direct to top than going to col and because snow is better.

2 men had small fall into crevasse but saved by rope
3 men have same frostbite but not serious (not black)