Annapurna IV | 1987 N Ridge-W Ridge

A USA expedition to Annapurna IV in 1987 via N Ridge-W Ridge, led by Eric Simonson. Summit reached on 16th October 1987. 15 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 47
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID ANN487302
Peak ID ANN4
Year 1987
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 N Ridge-W Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality USA
Leaders Eric Simonson
Sponsor 1987 American Annapurna IV N Ridge 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->Hongde->Sabje Khola
Basecamp Date 1987-09-29
Summit Date 1987-10-16
Summit Time -
Summit Days 17
Total Days 20
Termination Date 1987-10-19
Termination Reason 4
Termination Notes Abandoned at 6550m due to severe storm, supplies running out
High Point (m) 6460
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 3
Fixed Rope (m) 600
Total Members 15
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 2
Summit Hired 0
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(29/09,4665m),C1(02/10,5250m),C2(05/10,5550m),C3(11/10,6250m),xxx(16/10,6460m)
Route Notes BC at high normal BC Site C1 at top of rock band that forms buttress on North Ridge C2 at farther up North Ridge C3 at top of North Ridge where meets West Ridge High point at West Ridge. 1st summit team in C3 had winds 35 mph with gusts to 65-70 mph. They stayed in C3 4 nights waiting for winds to drop, then descended on 15th. 2nd team arrived C3 14th, rested 15th and 16th Wilson from 1st team and John started up West Ridge. Wilson reached just under 21,000 ft, stopped when not feeling well, while John on up to 21,000 ft and decided had found suitable site for C4 on this very long ridge. Wilson and John slept in C3 planning to pitch C4 next day and go for top on 18th. But 17th morning clouds moved in from south and headed down to BC where snowed that night. Decided to abandoned climb that morning and took tents down since were running out of fuel and food. Had ordered porters for 21st as fixed time to leave mountain. Left BC morning of 19th in 2 ft of snow and snowing so hard some members lost track. Avalanche hit John (not hurt) and another member and cook staff and from there on out was a fight to get out through waist-deep snow and white out. 4 left BC 2 days ahead of the rest in hurry to get home.
Accidents None except member had two teeth knocked out by rock at 6400m at bottom of rock band
Achievement -
Agency Rover Treks
Commercial Route -
Standard Route -
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2452177
Year 1987
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) n ridge-w ridge

Members

15 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Kenneth Bures M 1944 USA Climber Marblehead, Massachusetts Electrical engineer Details Other expeditions
Alan Chambard M 1950 USA Climber Redmond, Washington Accountant Details Other expeditions
Jan Cover M 1958 USA Climber Ripon, California Professor of philosophy Details Other expeditions
Jean Francois Ellis M 1946 USA Exp Doctor Dana Point, California Physician Details Other expeditions
Cecil (Curt) Hewitt M 1951 USA Deputy Leader Zimmerman, Minnesota Nurse Details Other expeditions
Daniel Holle M 1955 USA Climber Manhattan Beach, California Computer Analyst Details Other expeditions
Craig Alan John M 1957 USA Climber Olympia, Washington Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Charles S. (Charlie) Peck M 1947 USA Climber Pasadena, California Real estate agent Details Other expeditions
Jeffrey Shropshire M 1961 USA Climber Trenton, New Jersey Student & clerk Details Other expeditions
Eric Robb Simonson M 1955 USA Leader Ashford, Washington Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Paul Edward Slota M 1956 USA Climber Bakersfield, California Assistant manager of supermarket Details Other expeditions
William Thompson M 1948 USA Climber Minneapolis, Minnesota Professor Details Other expeditions
Robert Allen Wilson M 1940 USA Climber Gresham, Oregon Teacher, school Details Other expeditions
Laverne G. Woods F 1957 USA Climber Redmond, Washington Attorney Details Other expeditions
Richard Wright M 1954 USA Climber Idaho Falls, Idaho Metallurgist Details Other expeditions

References

3 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
ANN487302 AAJ Simonson, Eric - - 62:215-216 (1988) -
ANN487302 MM - - - 120:11 (Mar 1988) -
ANN487302 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198821504/Asia-Nepal-Annapurna-IV-North-Ridge-Attempt - - -