Ama Dablam | 1995 SW Ridge

A USA expedition to Ama Dablam in 1995 via SW Ridge, led by Alan Burgess. Summit reached on 19th October 1995. 10 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	1561
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
Host Country	1
Route 1	SW Ridge
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	USA
Leaders	Alan Burgess
Sponsor	American Ama Dablam 1995
Success 1	True
Success 2	False
Success 3	False
Success 4	False
Ascent 1	168,175
Ascent 2	-
Ascent 3	-
Ascent 4	-
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Countries	UK
Approach	-
Basecamp Date	1995-10-07
Summit Date	1995-10-19
Summit Time	-
Summit Days	12
Total Days	17
Termination Date	1995-10-24
Termination Reason	1
Termination Notes	-
High Point (m)	6814
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	2
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	7
Summit Members	7
Member Deaths	0
Total Hired	3
Summit Hired	3
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(07/10,4400m),C1(11/10,5800m),C3(17/10,6400m),Smt(19,24/10)
Route Notes	BC at normal site (lower than some this autumn) C3 at normal C3. Never used C2; took people training to site of C2 at top of tower & first party tried for top from C1 to normal site of C2 & on 18th got within 150m of top but got very cold (had started at 5 am) & started to get white toes - they hadn't expected this cold weather (Kvale, Palmer & Smith); came down to C1 same day. Others 4 members went up to C3 on 18th & to top on 19th. 2 "Sherpas" left C3 an hour after members; came up because wanted to & meet members just below summit in descent; all down to BC; first trio left BC 22 Oct & on top 24th Oct; left C3 later (8:30 am) than in 1st attempt. First successful party down to C1 19th except Pfetzer & Spitzer, who stayed in C3 because 15-year-old Pfetzer was tired. Burgess actually leader but went into Khumbu a week ahead of others to buy supplies & set up camp & met members in Namche. This planned in advance & made Spitzer leader so he could be in KTM for tourism briefing. Very impressive how smoothly teams mixed together, esp. Kammerlander, Dujmovits & H. Todd met with Burgess to work out what would be done by whom & "it was good to work with professionals" about correctly fixing ropes, e.g. Pfetzer (15 yrs) left expedition as soon as he finished his climb so he could get back to high school - his mother was at BC and he had his text books there too and send them - Pfetzer returned to KTM 27 Oct and said by phone 28 Oct: had left C3 at 9:30 am reached top at 12 noon - "it make great" although route in shade and very cold - plans to go to Everest again in spring '96 (with Henry Todd expedition).
Accidents	None
Achievement	Youngest summiter (15 years old)
Agency	Highland Sherpa
Commercial Route	True
Standard Route	False
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	False
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2454885
Year	1995
Summit Success	True
O2 Summary	None
Route (lowercase)	sw ridge

Members

Field	Value
ID	933
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	01
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Alan
Last Name	Burgess
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1948
Calculated Age	47
Citizenship	UK
Status	Leader
Residence	Salt Lake City, Utah
Occupation	Alpine guide
Leader	True
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-19
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	168
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2430764
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	alan burgess
Year of Birth	1948
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	47
Role	Leader

Field	Value
ID	934
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	03
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Ace
Last Name	Kvale
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1955
Calculated Age	39
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Ophir, Colorado
Occupation	Photographer
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-24
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	175
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2433353
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	ace kvale
Year of Birth	1955
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	40
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	935
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	04
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Robert Steven
Last Name	Manthy
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1963
Calculated Age	32
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Lansing, Michigan
Occupation	Aerospace engineer
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-19
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	168
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2436185
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	robert steven manthy
Year of Birth	1963
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	32
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	936
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	05
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Alison
Last Name	Palmer
Sex	F
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1961
Calculated Age	34
Citizenship	UK
Status	Climber
Residence	Telluride, Colorado
Occupation	Physiotherapist
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-24
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	175
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2435304
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	alison palmer
Year of Birth	1961
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	34
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	937
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	06
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Mark
Last Name	Pfetzer
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1980
Calculated Age	15
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Middletown, Rhode Island
Occupation	High school student
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-19
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	1200
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	168
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2442168
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	mark pfetzer
Year of Birth	1980
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	15
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	938
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	07
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Anne Lorraine
Last Name	Smith
Sex	F
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1963
Calculated Age	32
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Ophir, Colorado
Occupation	Marketing expert
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-24
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	175
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2436026
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	anne lorraine smith
Year of Birth	1963
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	32
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	939
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	02
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Travis A.
Last Name	Spitzer
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1971
Calculated Age	24
Citizenship	USA
Status	Leader
Residence	Durango, Colorado
Occupation	Alpine guide
Leader	True
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-19
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	168
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2438989
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	travis a. spitzer
Year of Birth	1971
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	24
Role	Leader

Field	Value
ID	23857
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	10
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Chhedar (John)
Last Name	Lama
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	-
Calculated Age	0
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	Upper Makalu-Barun
Occupation	-
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	True
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-24
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	175
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	-106
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	chhedar (john) lama
Year of Birth	-
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	-
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	23858
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	08
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Lhakpa
Last Name	Bhotia
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	-
Calculated Age	0
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	-
Occupation	-
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	True
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	True
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-24
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	175
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	-106
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	lhakpa bhotia
Year of Birth	-
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	-
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	23859
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Member ID	09
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1995
Season	3
First Name	Phurba
Last Name	Bhotia
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	-
Calculated Age	0
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	-
Occupation	-
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	True
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	True
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	6814
Summit Date 1	1995-10-24
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	175
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	-106
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	phurba bhotia
Year of Birth	-
Year	1995
Age at Expedition	-
Role	Hired

10 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Alan Burgess	M	1948	UK	Leader	Salt Lake City, Utah	Alpine guide	Details Other expeditions
Ace Kvale	M	1955	USA	Climber	Ophir, Colorado	Photographer	Details Other expeditions
Robert Steven Manthy	M	1963	USA	Climber	Lansing, Michigan	Aerospace engineer	Details Other expeditions
Alison Palmer	F	1961	UK	Climber	Telluride, Colorado	Physiotherapist	Details Other expeditions
Mark Pfetzer	M	1980	USA	Climber	Middletown, Rhode Island	High school student	Details Other expeditions
Anne Lorraine Smith	F	1963	USA	Climber	Ophir, Colorado	Marketing expert	Details Other expeditions
Travis A. Spitzer	M	1971	USA	Leader	Durango, Colorado	Alpine guide	Details Other expeditions
Chhedar (John) Lama	M	-	Nepal	H-A Worker	Upper Makalu-Barun	-	Details Other expeditions
Lhakpa Bhotia	M	-	Nepal	H-A Worker	-	-	Details Other expeditions
Phurba Bhotia	M	-	Nepal	H-A Worker	-	-	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	3054
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Reference ID	01
Year	1995
Type	2
Journal	AAJ
Author	Hawley, Elizabeth
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1996
Language	-
Citation	70:284-286 (1996)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	4914
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Reference ID	02
Year	1995
Type	3
Journal	HIGH
Author	-
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1996
Language	-
Citation	161:31 (Apr 1996)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	10988
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	AMAD95304
Reference ID	03
Year	1995
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199628402/Asia-Nepal-Pumori-Ama-Dablam-and-a-Season-Ending-Storm
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

3 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
AMAD95304	AAJ	Hawley, Elizabeth	-	-	70:284-286 (1996)	-
AMAD95304	HIGH	-	-	-	161:31 (Apr 1996)	-
AMAD95304	-	-	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199628402/Asia-Nepal-Pumori-Ama-Dablam-and-a-Season-Ending-Storm	-	-	-