원정 개요

BC at Lirung Glacier (500m above normal site)
C1 on SE Ridge.
High point at C2 site where snow field began on SE Ridge.

C2 site reached only on 18th March because one week heavy snowfall. Fixed rope to this site, then down to BC for rest. 4 members and 2 Sherpas to C1 on 18th March, so in BC 8 Japanese now. Each day in fact some members carrying loads to C1.

On 21st March 8 Japanese and 2 Sherpas carrying to C1 with 4 to stay in C1; these 4 were Nishimara, Kuwashina, Matsumoto and sirdar. At about 4900m (1 hr walk from BC) avalanche at 10:43 am hit 4 members: Futami, Hisamoto and Kuwashina swept away; Matsumoto hit but not injured; Nishimura also in group but not hit. Avalanche started by small ice which hit snow slabs and slab came down; avalanche carried 400m down and over 20m ice cliff; 10 men in line on 21st; 1st 2 not touched and last 4 not touched (Nishimura last man).

10:43 avalanche struck Matsumoto, Futami, Kuwashina and Hisamoto; if 1 min later Nishimura dead. At 11:00 Nishimura found Futami's body (left arm stuck out of snow); sirdar found Kuwashina's body. At 4:30 pm Nishimura and 2 Sherpas left BC and arrived KTM 22 March 11:30 pm; others still in BC to search for Hisamoto whose rucksack and goggles found, until 15th April if necessary. Helicopter 28th or 29th March to bring bodies to KTM; families of dead arrived KTM 27th March.