Ama Dablam | 1987 N Spur-N Ridge

A USA expedition to Ama Dablam in 1987 via N Spur-N Ridge, led by Frederick Ziel. Summit reached on 17th October 1987. 5 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 275
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID AMAD87302
Peak ID AMAD
Year 1987
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 N Spur-N Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality USA
Leaders Frederick Ziel
Sponsor 1987 American Ama Dablam N Ridge Expedition
Success 1 False
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 1987-09-23
Summit Date 1987-10-17
Summit Time -
Summit Days 24
Total Days 27
Termination Date 1987-10-20
Termination Reason 5
Termination Notes Abandoned at 6370m due to dangerous snow conditions
High Point (m) 6370
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 2
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 4
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 1
Summit Hired 0
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(25/09,5000m),C1(03/10,5900m),C2(17/10,6370m),xxx(17/10,6370m)
Route Notes BC west lateral moraine of Ama Dablam Glacier (foot of ridge) C1 on North Ridge where spur and North Ridge proper meet C2 at shoulder on West Ridge High point at C2 site. Reached C1 via spur on right side of N Ridge (ridge all rock, spur 95% snow). 2 went to establish C2 fixing rope and making route in hard climbing; fixed 1700m from 5275m to 6370m. Jeff Alzner, Fred Ziel and Tshering Lhakpa made C2 and left dump there. Storm hit and never slept in. Storm hit and "we ran for our lives." Descended and couldn't go back. Jeff came down in on avalanche Fred turned his anke. Mick Holt tried to go back up twice: what before was all boulders was now inside deep snow. Also running out of time. After storm lot of snow did not avalanche and was dangerous.
Accidents -
Achievement -
Agency Nepal Himal
Commercial Route False
Standard Route -
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2451908
Year 1987
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) n spur-n ridge

Members

5 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Jeffrey R. Alzner M 1958 USA Climber Portland, Oregon Nurseryman (trees and shrubs) Details Other expeditions
Steven Keith (Steve) Davis M 1954 USA Deputy Leader Eagle River, Alaska Marine biologist Details Other expeditions
Charles (Mick) Holt M 1953 USA Climber Seattle, Washington Teacher, English and Spanish Details Other expeditions
Tshering Lhakpa Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions
Frederick Harold (Fred) Ziel M 1953 USA Leader Pasadena, California Physician Details Other expeditions

References

2 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
AMAD87302 AAJ Ziel, Frederick - - 62:198 (1988) -
AMAD87302 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198819802/Asia-Nepal-Ama-Dablam-North-Ridge-Attempt - - -