Annapurna I | 2005 N Face (French route)

A Italy expedition to Annapurna I in 2005 via N Face (French route), led by Abele Blanc. Summit reached on 18th May 2005. 5 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 4838
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID ANN105106
Peak ID ANN1
Year 2005
Season 1
Host Country 1
Route 1 N Face (French route)
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Italy
Leaders Abele Blanc
Sponsor Italian Annapurna I 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 By air to Jomsom->Lete to pass (deep snow); trek to PKR, chopper to BC
Basecamp Date 2005-04-25
Summit Date 2005-05-18
Summit Time -
Summit Days 23
Total Days 23
Termination Date 2005-05-18
Termination Reason 6
Termination Notes Abandoned at 6300m due to fatal avalanche
High Point (m) 6300
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 2
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 5
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 1
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(25/04,4200m),C1(02/05,5050m),C2(03/05,5600m),xxx(18/05,6300m)
Route Notes High point at North Face sides of couloir 4 May to BC to rest: now snowfall kept him in BC till 16 May to C2. 17 May strong wind. 18 May avalanche. 18 May 5:00 am up to make C3 for summit bid 19 May. All 5 members up from C2 and from Merelli team (Mondinelli and Colli) plus Lock and 2 Americans (Mace and Cusik) at 8:30 am at wide shallow couloir at 6300m and avalanche of ice blocks, some of which were 3 meters wide, hit Blanc, Kuntner, Barmasse and Andres and carried them down 500m linear meters in ice and its blast (150 vertical meters down). Blanc side of his head hit and he went into speechless shock and no memory of avalanche; started speaking only night of 19th in Teaching Hospital and 2 broken ribs. Kuntner small head wound and internal injuries and died in C2 at 9:00 am, brought there by others who not injured; died at 10:00 am; Barmasse big cut from mouth to chin and broken nose; Andres left shoulder slightly dislocated. Helicopter came at 3:20 pm and evacuated all living members and Kuntner's body for burial at home. This was first avalanche here this month.
Accidents Kuntner, Blanc, Barmasse and Andres hit by avalanche (Kuntner killed)
Achievement -
Agency Thamserku Trekking
Commercial Route False
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference False
Primary ID -
Checksum 2458439
Year 2005
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) n face (french route)

Members

5 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Stephan Paul Andres M 1968 Italy Climber Laas, Bolzano, Italy Architect Details Other expeditions
Marco Barmasse M 1949 Italy Climber Valtournenche, Aosta, Italy Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Abele Blanc M 1954 Italy Leader Aymavilles, Aosta, Italy Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Marco Camandona M 1970 Italy Climber Aosta, Aosta, Italy Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Christian Kuntner M 1962 Italy Climber Prad am Stilfserjoch, Bolzano, Italy Alpine guide Details Other expeditions

References

4 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
ANN105106 CLIM - - - 17:76-77 (Jul 2006) -
ANN105106 - Kuntner, Christian 13-1/2 Achttausender Provinz Verlag, Brixen, Bolzano, Italy - -
ANN105106 AAJ Hawley, Elizabeth - - 80:405 (2006) -
ANN105106 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12200640501/Asia-Nepal-Annapurna-Himal-Annapurna-14th-for-Viesturs-Accident - - -