Ama Dablam | 1996 SW Ridge

A USA expedition to Ama Dablam in 1996 via SW Ridge, led by Bela Vadasz. Summit reached on 11th November 1996. 4 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	2010
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	AMAD96318
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1996
Season	3
Host Country	1
Route 1	SW Ridge
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	USA
Leaders	Bela Vadasz
Sponsor	96 American Ama Dablam
Success 1	True
Success 2	False
Success 3	False
Success 4	False
Ascent 1	204
Ascent 2	-
Ascent 3	-
Ascent 4	-
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Countries	-
Approach	-
Basecamp Date	1996-11-05
Summit Date	1996-11-11
Summit Time	-
Summit Days	6
Total Days	9
Termination Date	1996-11-14
Termination Reason	1
Termination Notes	-
High Point (m)	6814
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	3
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	4
Summit Members	4
Member Deaths	0
Total Hired	0
Summit Hired	0
Hired Deaths	0
No Hired	True
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(05/11,4600m),TempABC(06/11,5060m),C1(07/11,5830m),C2(09/11,6050m),C3(10/11,6250m),Smt(11/11)
Route Notes	This team, on same permit as Houston's team, were on tight schedule, arrived earlier at BC and moved up mountain, ahead of others team. 2 teams shared same liaison officer and base camp provided by trekking agent, but each team provided their own tents, gear and food above BC and they did not climb together.
Accidents	-
Achievement	-
Agency	Kunga
Commercial Route	True
Standard Route	False
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	False
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2455275
Year	1996
Summit Success	True
O2 Summary	None
Route (lowercase)	sw ridge

Members

Field	Value
ID	1147
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD96318
Member ID	02
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1996
Season	3
First Name	Thomas C.
Last Name	Burch
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1956
Calculated Age	40
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Greenbrae, California
Occupation	Attorney
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	1996-11-11
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	204
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	2433634
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	thomas c. burch
Year of Birth	1956
Year	1996
Age at Expedition	40
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	1148
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD96318
Member ID	03
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1996
Season	3
First Name	David
Last Name	Riggs
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1961
Calculated Age	35
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	August, Michigan
Occupation	Attorney
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	1996-11-11
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	204
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	2435401
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	david riggs
Year of Birth	1961
Year	1996
Age at Expedition	35
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	1149
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD96318
Member ID	01
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1996
Season	3
First Name	Bela G.
Last Name	Vadasz
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1953
Calculated Age	43
Citizenship	USA
Status	Leader
Residence	Norden, California
Occupation	Alpine guide & lodge owner
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	1996-11-11
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	204
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	2432463
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	bela g. vadasz
Year of Birth	1953
Year	1996
Age at Expedition	43
Role	Leader

Field	Value
ID	1150
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	AMAD96318
Member ID	04
Peak ID	AMAD
Year	1996
Season	3
First Name	Maria Y. (Mimi)
Last Name	Vadasz
Sex	F
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1954
Calculated Age	41
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Norden, California
Occupation	Alpine guide
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	1996-11-11
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	204
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	aka Maria Maki-Vadasz
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2433012
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	maria y. (mimi) vadasz
Year of Birth	1954
Year	1996
Age at Expedition	42
Role	Member

4 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Thomas C. Burch	M	1956	USA	Climber	Greenbrae, California	Attorney	Details Other expeditions
David Riggs	M	1961	USA	Climber	August, Michigan	Attorney	Details Other expeditions
Bela G. Vadasz	M	1953	USA	Leader	Norden, California	Alpine guide & lodge owner	Details Other expeditions
Maria Y. (Mimi) Vadasz	F	1954	USA	Climber	Norden, California	Alpine guide	Details Other expeditions

References

0 recorded references.