Annapurna South | 1978 N Ridge
A Japan expedition to Annapurna South in 1978 via N Ridge, led by Kuniaki Yamada. Summit reached on 1st May 1978. 11 members recorded.
Expedition Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| ID | 2135 |
| Imported | 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634 |
| Expedition ID | ANNS78101 |
| Peak ID | ANNS |
| Year | 1978 |
| Season | 1 |
| Host Country | 1 |
| Route 1 | N Ridge |
| Route 2 | - |
| Route 3 | - |
| Route 4 | - |
| Nationality | Japan |
| Leaders | Kuniaki Yamada |
| Sponsor | Sagimino Alpine Club |
| 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 | Pokhara->Modi Khola->Annapurna Sanctuary (BC) |
| Basecamp Date | 1978-03-19 |
| Summit Date | 1978-05-01 |
| Summit Time | - |
| Summit Days | 43 |
| Total Days | 49 |
| Termination Date | 1978-05-07 |
| Termination Reason | 5 |
| Termination Notes | Abandoned at 5910m due to deep snow |
| High Point (m) | 5910 |
| Traverse | False |
| Ski | False |
| Paraglide | False |
| Camps | 2 |
| Fixed Rope (m) | 0 |
| Total Members | 9 |
| Summit Members | 0 |
| Member Deaths | 0 |
| Total Hired | 3 |
| Summit Hired | 0 |
| Hired Deaths | 2 |
| 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(19/03,3650m),C1(27/03,5250m),C2(13/04,5630m),xxx(01/05,5910m) |
| Route Notes | Ishikawa - 13 May 78 Very difficult - reached 5900m on North Ridge - highest camp was C2 at 5630m. Stopped climbing because so much snow and very difficult with much overhanging rock. This route possible but takes long time and this season so much snow, so expedition decided to abandon climbing on 1 May. Ishikawa's accident 2 May while coming down from C1. Had heavy load clearing mountain. Fell 200 meters and hit his back on ice pinacle. One vertibrae broken and takes 2-3 months to mend lying on his back, but will climb again. All others leave on 16 May; he leaves with 2 others on 17 May and will have to be lying down on planes. Ranjan Bhattacharya, Express House - 9 May 78 Annapurna South expedition's leader, doctor and injured member Ishikawa came to KTM today by helicopter. Ishikawa hurt his back in fall of 2-3 meters and was hit by same ice blocks; is not in hospital here. Rest of expedition left BC 7 May SR Sharma - 8 May 78 Abandoned 3 May after reaching 5910m on 2 May. 1 member back injury on 2 May (not named) Others well. Weather not good. Yamada - 16 Feb 78 To Pokhara tomorrow by bus. North Ridge route, same expedition as 1973 but different route to summit. 1st time via this North Ridge. This ridge very difficult, but no avalanches as from 1972 and 1973 route. Will not climb North Pinnacle but will climb Central Pinnacle. 1964 from northeast to Central Park 1971 - ? 1973 from north onto East Ridge from Central Peak 1978 from East Wall to North Ridge N of North Peak Leave 18 Feb Caravan 6-7 days 150 porters up Modi Khola to BC at 4050m. ABC C1 C4 - 6800m Summit before 20 April 3 HA Sherpas including Pasang Sonam 9 members including Dr. No climbing oxygen Most difficult between C3 and C4 from rock to ice to rock, all very steep. |
| Accidents | Ishikawa hurt his back in fall of 2-3 meters and was hit by same ice blocks; 1 member back injury on same day |
| Achievement | - |
| Agency | - |
| Commercial Route | - |
| Standard Route | - |
| Primary Route | False |
| Primary Member | False |
| Primary Reference | - |
| Primary ID | - |
| Checksum | 2448713 |
| Year | 1978 |
| Summit Success | False |
| O2 Summary | None |
| Route (lowercase) | n ridge |
Members
11 recorded members.
| Name | Sex | Year of Birth | Citizenship | Status | Residence | Occupation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuniaki Yamada | M | 1944 | Japan | Leader | Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan | Agricultural engineer | Details Other expeditions |
| Katsuyoshi Soga | M | 1949 | Japan | Deputy Leader | Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan | Engineer | Details Other expeditions |
| Masao Sekino | M | 1947 | Japan | Climber | Machida, Tokyo, Japan | Staff member, Tokyo Metalurgic and Chem Co. | Details Other expeditions |
| Yasunori Murakami | M | 1950 | Japan | Climber | Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan | Staff member, Kansai Paint Co. | Details Other expeditions |
| Isamu Yano | M | 1951 | Japan | Climber | Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan | Staff municipality | Details Other expeditions |
| Shunichi Suzuki | M | 1955 | Japan | Climber | Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan | Nihon Electric Co. Staff | Details Other expeditions |
| Saburo Ishikawa | M | 1955 | Japan | Climber | Chosai, Chiba, Japan | Unemployed Richo Company staff before | Details Other expeditions |
| Shigeru Tanaka | M | 1935 | Japan | Climber | Yokohama, Japan | Cameraman | Details Other expeditions |
| Selshichi Yokohama | M | 1939 | Japan | Climber | Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan | Surgeon | Details Other expeditions |
| Unknown | M | - | Nepal | Porter | - | - | Details Other expeditions |
| Unknown | M | - | Nepal | Porter | - | - | Details Other expeditions |
References
2 recorded references.