Ama Dablam | 1987 SW Ridge

A UK expedition to Ama Dablam in 1987 via SW Ridge, led by William (Bill) O`Connor. Summit reached on 17th October 1987. 6 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 281
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID AMAD87303
Peak ID AMAD
Year 1987
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 SW Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality UK
Leaders William (Bill) O`Connor
Sponsor Anglo-American Ama Dablam 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 Iceland, USA
Approach -
Basecamp Date 1987-10-14
Summit Date 1987-10-17
Summit Time -
Summit Days 3
Total Days 14
Termination Date -
Termination Reason 5
Termination Notes Abandoned at 5700m due to bad snow conditions
High Point (m) 5700
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 1
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 5
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(14/10,4570m),C1(17/10,5700m),xxx(17,28/10,5700m)
Route Notes BC at old Mingbo helicopter pad C1 before pinnacles on South Ridge (2 rocky platforms) High point at C1. BC too low but at normal site lake had disappeared. Snow began falling that night had dumped 4 feet snow. All day 20th dug out BC tents. Now got colder and colder everyday and snow didn't melt and didn't consolidate. Down to Pangboche for 1 week of waiting for snow to improve but had changed very little. Went up to C1 but in very deep snow and there was snow on polished rock slabs. C1 one tent destroyed and other collasped and they found on 28th where reached it. 2 members had placed an intermediate camp on 28th in case needed in descent. Spieczny left expedition after snowstorm: thought climb hopeless and his wife trekking in region. O'Connor, Ama Dablam, Thyangboche - 22 Oct 1987 On the walk-in we passed a spring of nobbling climbers from the New Zealand expedition and a host of hollow-eyed Spaniards. Our own base went up on the 14th and Camp 1 was in place by the 17th and then the bombardment began. Twenty four hours later we were under 4 ft of snow and spent the next couple of days digging out, rather than in. Right now we are back in Thyangboche waiting for the snow to melt and hopefully for a chance at the climb, but the storm has been devastating. Camps on Pumori have been wiped out. Lhotse Shar and the Burgesses likewise are buried and I understand are pulling out.
Accidents None
Achievement -
Agency Mountain Travel
Commercial Route True
Standard Route False
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2451908
Year 1987
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) sw ridge

Members

6 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Stephen Mark (Steve) Aisthorpe M 1963 UK Climber Stanmore, Middlesex, England Teacher, outdoor activities (skiing, climbing) Details Other expeditions
Porsteinn Gudjonsson M 1961 Iceland Climber Reykjavik, Iceland Alpine guide & tour guide Details Other expeditions
Alison Jane Hargreaves F 1962 UK Climber Whatstandwell, Matlock, Derbyshire, England Manufacturer and importer of climbing equipment Details Other expeditions
William H. (Bill) O'Connor M 1947 UK Leader Harrogate, N Yorkshire, England Alpine guide & photographer Details Other expeditions
Dawa Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions
Jan M. Spieczny M 1941 USA Climber Littleton, Colorado Exhibits, designs and builds Details Other expeditions

References

2 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
AMAD87303 AAJ Cheney, Michael J. & Hawley, Elizabeth - - 62:199 (1988) -
AMAD87303 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198819901/Asia-Nepal-Ama-Dablam-Attempt - - -