Annapurna II | 1978 N Face-W Ridge

A UK expedition to Annapurna II in 1978 via N Face-W Ridge, led by Richard J. Isherwood. Summit reached on 2nd October 1978. 2 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 4
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID ANN278301
Peak ID ANN2
Year 1978
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 N Face-W Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality UK
Leaders Richard J. Isherwood
Sponsor British Annapurna II 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 Marshyangdi->Pisang->Salatang Khola
Basecamp Date 1978-09-08
Summit Date 1978-10-02
Summit Time -
Summit Days 24
Total Days 27
Termination Date 1978-10-05
Termination Reason 4
Termination Notes Abandoned at 7000m (on A-IV) due to bad weather
High Point (m) 7000
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 0
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 2
Summit Members 0
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(08/09,5190m),xxx(02/10,7000m)
Route Notes Alpine-style ascent. Originally planned N Face attempt, switched to NW Ridge after avalanching on route. Collister - 15 Oct 78 No camps above base - just took 1 tent with us - reached 23,000 feet on 30 Sept and technically quite easy - would have reached summit (via original route of North Face to West Ridge and were just below Annapurna IV on the ridge) in 3 more days. But slab avalanching created by wind off Annapurna IV forced retreat. No accidents or illness Left BC Shailendra Raj Sharma, Tourism - 10 Oct 78 Abandoned after reaching 23,000 ft on 2 Oct because weather very bad - left BC 5 Oct for KTM - all well. Isherwood - 28 Aug 78 British Annapurna II Expedition did not mention fact it's new route in early stories. Route: North Face to a col and then to West Ridge - so more direct route to summit - possibly a route farther east which does not get on to West Ridge at all. Leave 31 Aug, confirmed 30 Aug No Sherpas, no oxygen BC at 17,000 feet above Pisang on glacier that feeds Pisang. Perhaps 1 fixed camp at 20,000-21,000 ft - acclimatise by carrying loads up to it for few days and from there carry light tent. Arrive BC about 12 Sept (not to Pokhara) summit end Sept, 1st week Oct public bus to Dumre on KTM-Pokhara road.
Accidents -
Achievement -
Agency -
Commercial Route -
Standard Route -
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2448822
Year 1978
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) n face-w ridge

Members

2 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Richard John (Dick) Isherwood M 1943 UK Leader North Wales Agricultural scientist Details Other expeditions
Rob J. Collister M 1947 UK Climber Ogwen Cottage, North Wales Alpine instructor Details Other expeditions

References

2 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
ANN278301 AAJ Isherwood, Richard J. - - 53:274 (1979) -
ANN278301 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12197927403/Asia-Nepal-Annapurna-II-Attempt - - -