Cho Oyu | 2004 NW side

A USA expedition to Cho Oyu in 2004 via NW side, led by Gary Guller. Summit reached on 28th September 2004. 10 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	4709
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
Host Country	2
Route 1	NW side
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	USA
Leaders	Gary Guller
Sponsor	International Good Friends Cho Oyu Expedition
Success 1	True
Success 2	False
Success 3	False
Success 4	False
Ascent 1	-
Ascent 2	-
Ascent 3	-
Ascent 4	-
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Countries	France, Germany, Switzerland
Approach	-
Basecamp Date	2004-09-08
Summit Date	2004-09-28
Summit Time	0900
Summit Days	20
Total Days	26
Termination Date	2004-10-04
Termination Reason	1
Termination Notes	-
High Point (m)	8188
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	3
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	8
Summit Members	4
Member Deaths	0
Total Hired	2
Summit Hired	2
Hired Deaths	0
No Hired	False
O2 Used	True
O2 None	False
O2 Climb	True
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	True
O2 Medical	False
O2 Taken	False
O2 Unknown	False
Other Summits	-
Campsites	BC(08/09),ABC(11/09,5700m),C1(16/09,6400m),C2(21/09,6900m),C3(27/09,7400m),Smt(28/09)
Route Notes	Summit party, Finkel and Woodbeck left C3 at 2:00 am NST and on top 9:00 am except Finkel who turned back at 7500m with boy friend Woodbeck whose feet got cold and down to C1; saw Everest and Lhotse in "beautiful" conditions, no wind, blue sky; returned to C3 to sleep at 2:30 pm; 29th to ABC. Gerard left 26th Sept (tired). Sellier left 24th Sept (homesick). Sherpa summiters: Namgyal, Lelep, Everest X2 Lhakpa Rangdu, 18/1/67, Sotang, 1st 8000er
Accidents	-
Achievement	1st one armed climber to top
Agency	Arun Treks
Commercial Route	True
Standard Route	True
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	False
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2458656
Year	2004
Summit Success	True
O2 Summary	Used
Route (lowercase)	nw side

Members

Field	Value
ID	36181
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	02
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Brook Joe
Last Name	Alongi
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1976
Calculated Age	28
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Marysville, Washington
Occupation	Alpine guide
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2004-09-28
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0900
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	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2440957
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	brook joe alongi
Year of Birth	1976
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	28
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	36182
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	03
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Claire Sylvie
Last Name	David
Sex	F
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1972
Calculated Age	32
Citizenship	France
Status	Climber
Residence	Gif-sur-Yvette, Yvelines, France
Occupation	Local development executive
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2004-09-28
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0900
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	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2439357
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	claire sylvie david
Year of Birth	1972
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	32
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	36183
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	04
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Diana Janet
Last Name	Finkel
Sex	F
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1971
Calculated Age	32
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	South Fork, Colorado
Occupation	Teacher
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	7500
Summit Date 1	2004-09-28
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	4
Summit Term	14
HCN	0
Checksum	2439319
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	diana janet finkel
Year of Birth	1971
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	33
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	36184
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	05
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Philippe
Last Name	Gerard
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1953
Calculated Age	51
Citizenship	Switzerland
Status	Climber
Residence	Grolley, Fribourg, Switzerland
Occupation	Civil engineer
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	7
HCN	0
Checksum	2432481
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	philippe gerard
Year of Birth	1953
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	51
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	36185
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	01
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Gary John
Last Name	Guller
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1966
Calculated Age	38
Citizenship	USA/UK
Status	Leader
Residence	Austin, Texas
Occupation	Trekking company operator
Leader	True
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	True
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2004-09-28
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0900
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	True
O2 None	False
O2 Climb	True
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	True
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	In C3 to top to C3
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	Missing one arm
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2437324
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	gary john guller
Year of Birth	1966
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	38
Role	Leader

Field	Value
ID	36186
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	06
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Philippe
Last Name	Sellier
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1970
Calculated Age	33
Citizenship	France
Status	Climber
Residence	Villepreux, Yvelines, France
Occupation	Communications engineer
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	18
HCN	0
Checksum	2438907
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	philippe sellier
Year of Birth	1970
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	34
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	36187
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	07
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Jens
Last Name	Voigt
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1975
Calculated Age	29
Citizenship	Germany
Status	Climber
Residence	Frankfurt-am-Main, Hesse, Germany
Occupation	Stockbrocker
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2004-09-28
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0900
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	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2440489
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	jens voigt
Year of Birth	1975
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	29
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	36188
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	08
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Benjamin C. (Ben)
Last Name	Woodbeck
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1970
Calculated Age	34
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	South Fork, Colorado
Occupation	Teacher
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	7500
Summit Date 1	2004-09-28
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	4
Summit Term	8
HCN	0
Checksum	2438727
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	benjamin c. (ben) woodbeck
Year of Birth	1970
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	34
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	36189
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	10
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Namgya/Namgyal
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1971
Calculated Age	33
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	Gyabla, Lelep-8, Taplejung
Occupation	-
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	True
Sherpa	True
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2004-09-28
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0900
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	(1971-2022) Died 16 Dec 2022
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2439118
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	namgya/namgyal sherpa
Year of Birth	1971
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	33
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	36190
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Member ID	09
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2004
Season	3
First Name	Lhakpa Rangdu
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1967
Calculated Age	36
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	Talakharka, Sotang-6, Solukhumbu
Occupation	-
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	True
Sherpa	True
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2004-09-28
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0900
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	1st 8000er
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2437760
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	lhakpa rangdu sherpa
Year of Birth	1967
Year	2004
Age at Expedition	37
Role	Hired

10 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Brook Joe Alongi	M	1976	USA	Climber	Marysville, Washington	Alpine guide	Details Other expeditions
Claire Sylvie David	F	1972	France	Climber	Gif-sur-Yvette, Yvelines, France	Local development executive	Details Other expeditions
Diana Janet Finkel	F	1971	USA	Climber	South Fork, Colorado	Teacher	Details Other expeditions
Philippe Gerard	M	1953	Switzerland	Climber	Grolley, Fribourg, Switzerland	Civil engineer	Details Other expeditions
Gary John Guller	M	1966	USA/UK	Leader	Austin, Texas	Trekking company operator	Details Other expeditions
Philippe Sellier	M	1970	France	Climber	Villepreux, Yvelines, France	Communications engineer	Details Other expeditions
Jens Voigt	M	1975	Germany	Climber	Frankfurt-am-Main, Hesse, Germany	Stockbrocker	Details Other expeditions
Benjamin C. (Ben) Woodbeck	M	1970	USA	Climber	South Fork, Colorado	Teacher	Details Other expeditions
Namgya/Namgyal Sherpa	M	1971	Nepal	H-A Worker	Gyabla, Lelep-8, Taplejung	-	Details Other expeditions
Lhakpa Rangdu Sherpa	M	1967	Nepal	H-A Worker	Talakharka, Sotang-6, Solukhumbu	-	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	7643
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	CHOY04303
Reference ID	01
Year	2004
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	http://www.garyguller.com/press/guller_cho_oyu_summit_2004.html
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

1 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
CHOY04303	-	-	http://www.garyguller.com/press/guller_cho_oyu_summit_2004.html	-	-	-