Cho Oyu | 2003 NW side

A Spain expedition to Cho Oyu in 2003 via NW side, led by Mikel Alvaraz. Summit reached on 13th May 2003. 3 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 4238
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID CHOY03109
Peak ID CHOY
Year 2003
Season 1
Host Country 2
Route 1 NW side
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Spain
Leaders Mikel Alvaraz
Sponsor Cho Oyu International Expedition 2003
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 Australia
Approach -
Basecamp Date 2003-04-05
Summit Date 2003-05-13
Summit Time -
Summit Days 38
Total Days 40
Termination Date 2003-05-15
Termination Reason 7
Termination Notes Abandoned at 8000m due to Falahey exhausted and frostbitten
High Point (m) 8000
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 3
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 3
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 True
O2 Unknown False
Other Summits Attempted Lhotse (LHOT-031-02)
Campsites BC(05/04),ABC(09/04,5700m),C1(13/04,6400m),C2(11/05,7000m),C3(12/05,7500m),xxx(13/05,8000m)
Route Notes High point at 8000m at summit plateau. 13 April 2 Spaniards went to C1 and had to stay there because of deep snow. 17 April 2 Spaniards with 2 French members and their 2 Sherpas, climbed up to 6600m, up 400m steep rock - then many rocks were falling and retreated to ABC. 23rd all 3 members (& 2 French) returned to C1. 24th 3 members climbed to 6800m in late afternoon; very steep rock and again down, Alvarez to ABC, Rodriguez and Falahey to C1 to sleep. 25th Rodriguez and Falahey to ABC. 27th all 3 members up from C1 for summit push. 28th 3 members reached 6800m, then were stopped by strong winds so back to C1. Spent 3 days in C1 waiting for better weather, then down to ABC and climb finished, at least for 2 Spaniards. But Falahey, who had arrived after 2 Spaniards, stayed on at ABC with Australians led by Paul Carr. Alvarez went over to Everest BC to attempt Lhotse. 19 May - Falahey: he stayed on after Spaniards left on 2-3 May. Australian police were his friends and shared their BC services, but never really climbed with them. Went up to C1 several times, but wind terrible for 7 straight days. 11 May to C2 at 7000m and slept there one night. 12 May to C3 and slept there at 7500m. 13 May summit push alone and got to 8100m, on to summit plateau, then down because several more hours climb to highest point and back. Fingers had started freezing (gloves too bulky for jumar and had to take out bulky inner gloves and then fingers were getting very cold). Down to C3 and put hands in hot water; now alone in Amical tent since German tent mate had gone down. 14 May waited for break in then down to C2, stayed an hour, down to C1, packed that up too knowing climb finished. Was having vomitting problem and feeling very bad. Left ABC and BC 15 May.
Accidents -
Achievement -
Agency Asian Trekking
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference False
Primary ID -
Checksum 2458151
Year 2003
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) nw side

Members

3 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Miquel (Mikel) Alvarez Menor M 1960 Spain Leader Artica, Navarra, Spain Restaurantuer Details Other expeditions
Blair John Falahey M 1970 Australia Climber Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Carpenter-builder Details Other expeditions
Ignacio Rodriguez M 1961 Spain Climber San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain Mechanic Details Other expeditions

References

0 recorded references.