Cho Oyu | 2005 NW side

A USA expedition to Cho Oyu in 2005 via NW side, led by Willie Benegas. Summit reached on 22nd September 2005. 4 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 5071
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID CHOY05340
Peak ID CHOY
Year 2005
Season 3
Host Country 2
Route 1 NW side
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality USA
Leaders Willie Benegas
Sponsor 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 -
Approach Kodari->Tingri
Basecamp Date 2005-09-05
Summit Date 2005-09-22
Summit Time 1300
Summit Days 17
Total Days 20
Termination Date 2005-09-25
Termination Reason 1
Termination Notes -
High Point (m) 8188
Traverse False
Ski True
Paraglide False
Camps 3
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 4
Summit Members 3
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 0
Summit Hired 0
Hired Deaths 0
No Hired True
O2 Used True
O2 None False
O2 Climb True
O2 Descent False
O2 Sleep False
O2 Medical False
O2 Taken False
O2 Unknown False
Other Summits -
Campsites BC(05/09,4500m),ABC(07/09,5500m),C1(11/09,6330m),C2(13/09,7200m),C3(21/09,7550m),Smt(22/09)
Route Notes BC at CBC ABC at usual campsite C1 at usual campsite C2 at usual campsite C3 at usual campsite. All four members left C3 at 06:30 hours (NST) on 22nd, summited at 13:00 hours, stayed about 10 minutes. Benegas descended to ABC where he arrived at 20:00 hours. O'Neil and Rigby ski descended to C2 at 17:00 hours. Spent night next day to ABC. Weather was good but lots of fresh knee-deep snow. Others on summit on that day were Russell Brice, plus 3 of his members and 3 of his Sherpas. Team member Griber had to turn back from about 8000m as he was exhausted. The team returned to KTM on Sept 26. Benegas will leave on 27/8th and rest of the members on 29th. Benegas did not try the Spanish route because of snow conditions (too much snow). He may be coming for Everest in the spring either with Russell Brice or Mountain Madness, not sure. Note oxygen: Benegas and O'Neil summited without oxygen, Rigby used oxygen from C3 to summit and on and off on descent to C2, Griber used oxygen from C3.
Accidents -
Achievement Two female Americans ski descent to C1
Agency Nomad Expeditions
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference False
Primary ID -
Checksum 2459061
Year 2005
Summit Success True
O2 Summary Used
Route (lowercase) nw side

Members

4 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Guillermo (Willie) Benegas M 1968 USA Leader Holladay, Utah Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
John Peter Griber M 1966 USA Climber Jackson, Wyoming Fishing guide Details Other expeditions
Hilaree Janet O'Neill F 1972 USA Climber Telluride, Colorado Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Catherine Clare (Kasha) Rigby F 1970 USA Climber Salt Lake City, Utah Writer and yoga teacher Details Other expeditions

References

0 recorded references.