AlpineK Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Thirty years ago I took part in an attempt to ascend an unclimbed route on Mt Everest (NE Ridge). Our trip was during the post monsoon period (August-September). While we did have a period of good weather, snowfall became mostly non stop. At the end of August jetstream winds descended. No expedition attempting routes on the northern side of the mountain was able to summited that season. The route we attempted was the same route Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker died on. In subsequent years I believe climbers have made it through a series of pinnacles, but no one has summitted via this route. Article: https://lmtribune.com/northwest/last-men-on-the-mountain/article_962a9909-5920-52f9-9413-3a857cf43f3f.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwAR3eywumm7VM5nSMLcUJQRzbyt_KQ2tlTbKcSZPQW9Qb9u2Tdf13X6XHLbs It was interesting/depressing to see how some of the Chinese liaison officers treated Tibetans. When we new we were not going to summit, two brits and myself did a 20 mile walk down the road. We told others not to say anything to the main liaison officer until trucks scheduled to drive us to Nepal showed up. Once the liaison officer caught up with us, he was a bit pissed. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bosterson Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 Thanks for posting Kurt, that's neato. Has no one really climbed the full NE ridge yet? (I thought it finally went down in the late 90s, but maybe not the whole thing?) Really cool to see your old photos, I'm sure a lot has changed about how the "scene" is out there compared with when you were there. Side note re Chinese/Tibetans, I just discovered China has made some kind of Chinese version of Vertical Limit (called "The Climbers"), featuring amongst others Jackie Chan (??), which makes propagandistic references to how the 1960 Chinese climbers have to summit "their" mountain... Oy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 To the best of my knowledge, one or two groups have successfully climbed through a series of pinnacles where the ridge steepens. At that point the group or groups descended the north col route. It's still a long ways to the summit after ascending the pinnacles. You wouldn't meet up with the north col route until you are practically on the summit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScaredSilly Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 The Japanese did the complete NE Ridge in 1995 with sherpa support and fixed ropes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khartoum Wood Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 this is really cool too see amazing pictures too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pup_on_the_mountain Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Thanks much for sharing the link to the story and old pics, Kurt! You guys were a tough bunch BITD. And nice to see connections to the Palouse... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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