Cho Oyu | 2005 NW side

A USA expedition to Cho Oyu in 2005 via NW side, led by Justin Merle. Summit reached on 25th September 2005. 9 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	5073
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
Host Country	2
Route 1	NW side
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	USA
Leaders	Justin Merle
Sponsor	International Mountain Guides (IMG) Cho Oyu 2005
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	Beijing->Lhasa->Tingri
Basecamp Date	2005-08-31
Summit Date	2005-09-25
Summit Time	0830
Summit Days	25
Total Days	28
Termination Date	2005-09-28
Termination Reason	1
Termination Notes	-
High Point (m)	8188
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	3
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	6
Summit Members	5
Member Deaths	0
Total Hired	3
Summit Hired	3
Hired Deaths	0
No Hired	False
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(31/08,4900m),ABC(05/09,5600m),C1(13/09,6400m),C2(20/09,7100m),C3(24/09,7500m),Smt(25/09)
Route Notes	Team left C3 at 1 am, spent about 30 minutes on the summit and descended to C2, where they arrived at 2 pm. Charles Gray left ABC on 20 Sept due to mild AMS. Sherpas and Tibetan did not use oxygen. Sherpas: Danuru Sherpa, 26/10/78, Phortse (6th time Cho Oyu) Phu Nuru Sherpa, 16/5/80, Phortse (6th time Cho Oyu, 2X Everest) Phubu Thunzu, aka Phurba Dunchu, from Tingri (now lives in Lhasa), climbed Everest in 21/5/2003, Cho Oyu once before
Accidents	-
Achievement	-
Agency	Great Escapes Trekking
Commercial Route	True
Standard Route	True
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	False
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2459064
Year	2005
Summit Success	True
O2 Summary	Used
Route (lowercase)	nw side

Members

Field	Value
ID	38663
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Member ID	02
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
First Name	Richard
Last Name	Davis
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1971
Calculated Age	34
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Pasadena, California
Occupation	Attorney
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	2005-09-25
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0830
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	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	From 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	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2438945
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	richard davis
Year of Birth	1971
Year	2005
Age at Expedition	34
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	38664
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Member ID	03
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
First Name	Gary Edward
Last Name	Giss
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1970
Calculated Age	35
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Chandler, Arizona
Occupation	Psychotherapy instructor
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	2005-09-25
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0830
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	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	From 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	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2438565
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	gary edward giss
Year of Birth	1970
Year	2005
Age at Expedition	35
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	38665
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Member ID	04
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
First Name	Charles E.
Last Name	Gray
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1959
Calculated Age	46
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	North Stonington, Connecticut
Occupation	Mechanical engineer
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	True
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)	5600
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	6
HCN	0
Checksum	2434718
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	charles e. gray
Year of Birth	1959
Year	2005
Age at Expedition	46
Role	BC Only

Field	Value
ID	38666
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Member ID	05
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
First Name	Robert C. G.
Last Name	Hottentot
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1940
Calculated Age	65
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Oakland, Maine
Occupation	Retired orthopedic surgeon
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	2005-09-25
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0830
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	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	From 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	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2427737
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	robert c. g. hottentot
Year of Birth	1940
Year	2005
Age at Expedition	65
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	38667
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Member ID	01
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
First Name	Justin Reese
Last Name	Merle
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1978
Calculated Age	27
Citizenship	USA
Status	Leader
Residence	Ashford, Washington
Occupation	Alpine guide
Leader	True
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	2005-09-25
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0830
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	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	From 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	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2441627
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	justin reese merle
Year of Birth	1978
Year	2005
Age at Expedition	27
Role	Leader

Field	Value
ID	38668
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Member ID	06
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
First Name	Jack L.
Last Name	Sutton
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1960
Calculated Age	45
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Madison, Connecticut
Occupation	Programmer
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	2005-09-25
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0830
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	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	From 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	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2435042
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	jack l. sutton
Year of Birth	1960
Year	2005
Age at Expedition	45
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	38669
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Member ID	08
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
First Name	Dawa Nuru (Danuru)
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1978
Calculated Age	26
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	Phortse, Khumbu
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	2005-09-25
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0830
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	6th ascent of Cho Oyu; brother of Panuru Sherpa (Phortse)
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2441724
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	dawa nuru (danuru) sherpa
Year of Birth	1978
Year	2005
Age at Expedition	27
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	38670
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Member ID	09
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
First Name	Phu Nuru (Phunuru)
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1980
Calculated Age	25
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	Phortse, Khumbu
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	2005-09-25
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0830
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	5th ascent of Cho Oyu
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2442290
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	phu nuru (phunuru) sherpa
Year of Birth	1980
Year	2005
Age at Expedition	25
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	38671
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Member ID	07
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2005
Season	3
First Name	Phurbu Dhondup (Big)
Last Name	-
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1976
Calculated Age	29
Citizenship	China
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	Shigatse, Tibet, China
Occupation	-
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	True
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	True
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	2005-09-25
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	0830
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	3rd ascent of Cho Oyu; aka Big Dungchu, Phubu Thunzu, Phurba Dungchu, Pubu Dunzhu, Pubu Dudrup
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2440915
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	phurbu dhondup (big)
Year of Birth	1976
Year	2005
Age at Expedition	29
Role	Hired

9 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Richard Davis	M	1971	USA	Climber	Pasadena, California	Attorney	Details Other expeditions
Gary Edward Giss	M	1970	USA	Climber	Chandler, Arizona	Psychotherapy instructor	Details Other expeditions
Charles E. Gray	M	1959	USA	Climber	North Stonington, Connecticut	Mechanical engineer	Details Other expeditions
Robert C. G. Hottentot	M	1940	USA	Climber	Oakland, Maine	Retired orthopedic surgeon	Details Other expeditions
Justin Reese Merle	M	1978	USA	Leader	Ashford, Washington	Alpine guide	Details Other expeditions
Jack L. Sutton	M	1960	USA	Climber	Madison, Connecticut	Programmer	Details Other expeditions
Dawa Nuru (Danuru) Sherpa	M	1978	Nepal	H-A Worker	Phortse, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions
Phu Nuru (Phunuru) Sherpa	M	1980	Nepal	H-A Worker	Phortse, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions
Phurbu Dhondup (Big)	M	1976	China	H-A Worker	Shigatse, Tibet, China	-	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	7654
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	CHOY05342
Reference ID	01
Year	2005
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	http://www.mountainguides.com/05cho-oyu/index.html
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

1 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
CHOY05342	-	-	http://www.mountainguides.com/05cho-oyu/index.html	-	-	-