Annapurna III | 1991 SE Pillar

A USA expedition to Annapurna III in 1991 via SE Pillar, led by William Bancroft. Summit reached on 30th September 1991. 2 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	545
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	ANN391301
Peak ID	ANN3
Year	1991
Season	3
Host Country	1
Route 1	SE Pillar
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	USA
Leaders	William Bancroft
Sponsor	1991 American Annapurna III 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	Seti Khola
Basecamp Date	1991-09-07
Summit Date	1991-09-30
Summit Time	-
Summit Days	23
Total Days	0
Termination Date	-
Termination Reason	8
Termination Notes	Abandoned at 4730m due to lack of water supply
High Point (m)	4730
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	1
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(07/09,3050m),ABC(19/09,4270m),Biv(29/09,4725m),xxx(30/09,4730m)
Route Notes	BC northeast of Machhapuchare (furthest porters would go just below SE Buttress) ABC just below SE Buttress Biv on ridge linking Annapurna III and IV. 7-19 Sept spent finding route to ABC and waiting for monsoon rain to end. 19th-29 Sept rest, get more food and gear, and tried to find snow for water but couldn't find on ridge, which was technical rock climbing to fair degree. Taken team's plastic jerry cans intended for carrying water. Rock slightly rotten but no more than Canadian Rockies where they climb a lot. When LO had to be escorted out by team's only staff member, BC looted.
Accidents	None (except LO's fever)
Achievement	-
Agency	Nepal Himal
Commercial Route	-
Standard Route	-
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	False
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2453581
Year	1991
Summit Success	False
O2 Summary	None
Route (lowercase)	se pillar

Members

Field	Value
ID	2579
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN391301
Member ID	02
Peak ID	ANN3
Year	1991
Season	3
First Name	Scott
Last Name	Backes
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1957
Calculated Age	34
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	St. Paul, Minnesota
Occupation	Film lighting technician
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	4730
Summit Date 1	1991-09-30
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	0
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	1
Summit Term	10
HCN	0
Checksum	2433961
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	scott backes
Year of Birth	1957
Year	1991
Age at Expedition	34
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	2580
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN391301
Member ID	01
Peak ID	ANN3
Year	1991
Season	3
First Name	William
Last Name	Bancroft
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1954
Calculated Age	37
Citizenship	USA
Status	Leader
Residence	Sunfish Lake, Minnesota
Occupation	Salesman
Leader	True
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	4730
Summit Date 1	1991-09-30
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	0
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	1
Summit Term	10
HCN	0
Checksum	2432903
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	william bancroft
Year of Birth	1954
Year	1991
Age at Expedition	37
Role	Leader

2 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Scott Backes	M	1957	USA	Climber	St. Paul, Minnesota	Film lighting technician	Details Other expeditions
William Bancroft	M	1954	USA	Leader	Sunfish Lake, Minnesota	Salesman	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	2451
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	ANN391301
Reference ID	01
Year	1991
Type	2
Journal	AAJ
Author	Hawley, Elizabeth
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1992
Language	-
Citation	66:216 (1992)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	11369
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	ANN391301
Reference ID	02
Year	1991
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199221602/Asia-Nepal-Annapurna-III-Post-Monsoon-Attempts
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

2 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
ANN391301	AAJ	Hawley, Elizabeth	-	-	66:216 (1992)	-
ANN391301	-	-	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199221602/Asia-Nepal-Annapurna-III-Post-Monsoon-Attempts	-	-	-