Ama Dablam | 2012 SW Ridge

A Australia expedition to Ama Dablam in 2012 via SW Ridge, led by Chris Jensen Burke. Summit reached on 29th November 2012. 2 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 7930
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID AMAD12344
Peak ID AMAD
Year 2012
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 SW Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Australia
Leaders Chris Jensen Burke
Sponsor A Kiwi to Ama Dablam
Success 1 True
Success 2 False
Success 3 False
Success 4 False
Ascent 1 -
Ascent 2 -
Ascent 3 -
Ascent 4 -
Claimed False
Disputed False
Countries -
Approach -
Basecamp Date 2012-11-21
Summit Date 2012-11-29
Summit Time 1230
Summit Days 8
Total Days 9
Termination Date 2012-11-30
Termination Reason 1
Termination Notes -
High Point (m) 6814
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 0
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 1
Summit Members 1
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 1
Summit Hired 1
Hired Deaths 0
No Hired False
O2 Used False
O2 None True
O2 Climb False
O2 Descent False
O2 Sleep False
O2 Medical False
O2 Taken False
O2 Unknown False
Other Summits -
Campsites BC(21/11,4700m),C1(22/11,5800m),C2(23/11,6000m),C3(24/11,6250m),Smt(29/11)
Route Notes From Christine Burke's blog (www.chrisjensenburke.com): Nov 23: After being blasted by icy cold winds taking the temperature down to -5 degrees, Chris and Lakpa have reached the refuge of Camp 1 of Ama Dablam at approximately 5800m (22 November). With no respite from the gusty conditions forecast for the next few days and 90km winds predicted for the 24th, the plan is to make their way to Camp 3 at around 6250m to sit it out and wait for a suitable summit window which will hopefully come on the 25th. Nov 24: Thankfully the forecast high winds didn't eventuate yesterday (23rd November) and Chris and Lapka were able to reach Camp 2 in just over 3 hours of climbing up steep rock with minimal snow. This part of the climb includes the steepest section of the mountain, the Yellow Tower, so it's great to have that behind them now. Camp 2 itself consists of just 5 tents on a small ledge and they're bunking in with another team seeing as there's just no room for more. Sadly, being late in the season, many climbers have been and gone before them and much rubbish remains which needs cleaning up. Today (24th) is another big day up to Camp 3 at approximately 6250m and includes getting up the intimidatingly named "Grey Tower" of snow, rock and ice and then Mushroom Ridge. Fingers crossed that conditions remain good and those winds don't appear. Nov 24: What a difference a few hours can make on the mountain. It looks like yesterday was the calm before the storm as Camp 2 was pounded by fierce winds throughout the night and they are forecast to go up to 110km/hr today (24h November). For now everyone is staying put, trying to secure the tents as best as possible and hoping the winds will drop as projected for tomorrow. In the morning, if conditions are favourable, Chris and Lakpa have decided to make a push straight for the summit, bypassing Camp 3 altogether. There's a 50% success rate this way but Chris is feeling great and raring to give it her best shot. Stay tuned! Nov 25: Today (25th November) the strong winds made it too dangerous to go any higher so instead of the planned summit push, Chris and Lakpa decided on a complete change of tack and are going back down to Base Camp to pick up more food supplies, rest and wait for the better weather that is predicted for the 27th, 28th and 29th. When the time is right they'll head up again. Nov 29: Describing it as "probably the toughest single day on record bar the Everest summit, she and Lakpa reached Ama Dablam’s summit just after lunch Nepal time, and they had it all to themselves as the only and last climbers on the mountain this season. After one and half days rest at Base Camp, the summit push began on 27th November with a 7-hour climb straight to Camp 2. Yesterday’s attempt to skip Camp 3 was nixed however after Chris felt her energy levels were a bit low. Due to the brutal conditions Chris and Lakpa only made it back down to Camp 3 tonight so they still have a huge day ahead of them tomorrow along the hardest section with high winds forecast again.
Accidents -
Achievement -
Agency Himalayan Ascent
Commercial Route True
Standard Route False
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2461018
Year 2012
Summit Success True
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) sw ridge

Members

2 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Christine Patricia Jensen Burke F 1968 Australia/New Zealand Leader Marrickville Metro, NSW, Australia Attorney Details Other expeditions
Lakpa/Lhakpa Sherpa M 1968 Nepal H-A Worker Tamku-9, Makalu-Barun - Details Other expeditions

References

1 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
AMAD12344 - - http://www.chrisjensenburke.com/blog/ - - -