원정 개요

While making route to C3 site on 10th Oct when avalanche carried 3 "Sherpas" (Tamangs actually) 150m down and sirdar buried in snow with foot sticking out and pulled out alive but unconscious by other 2 Sherpas and recovered. All members were in BC resting for ascent soon afterwards. Then leader and others decided too dangerous to continue climbing. 4 members left BC 11th and 12th Oct and Knoll with baggage on 14th. Plan was for "Sherpas" to make C3. Knoll made BC and C1 before other 4 members arrived by helicopter at Samagaon.

Nima Tamang, Dorje Tamang, Nima Dorje Tamang [= 3 Sherpas]

Knoll made BC and C1 before other 4 members arrived by helicopter at Samagaon.


Letter from Oswald Oelz - 20 October 1989

The base camp was established at 4750m on September 26th. On the 28th of September we established C1 above the Naike Col at an altitude of approx 5600m. Subsequently there was considerable snowfall; however, on the 3rd of October a preliminary C2 was established at an altitude of approx 6300-6400m. All this was much also a work of our 3 excellent high altitude Sherpas. During the next period there was again some considerable snowfall. On the 10th of October while [returning from?] carring equipment to the planed side of C3 the three high altitude Sherpas got into a huge avalanche at an approx altitude of 6600m. This slab started without without any prior warning signs directly on the tracks of the normal route. Miraculously two of the Sherpas were only partly buried and could rescue themselves. Subsequently they found their sirdar who was rapidly digged out and who was already unconscious. With the help of the American Lapkass of the British/American Expedition who had accompanied our Sherpas and had not been avalanched, they could resuscitate him and eventually all four got back to C2. They were no major injuries, but loss of equipment including one set of a walky-talky. On the following day we accompanied our Sherpas down to base camp and abandoned the expedition due to continued danger of avalanches and time pressure.