Cho Oyu | 2018 NW side

A UK expedition to Cho Oyu in 2018 via NW side, led by Adrian Ballinger. Summit reached on 6th May 2018. 10 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	9789
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
Host Country	2
Route 1	NW side
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	UK
Leaders	Adrian Ballinger
Sponsor	Alpenglow Cho Oyu/Everest Lightning Ascent 2018
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	Ecuador, USA
Approach	Lhasa->Tingri->Cho Oyu BC by vehicle
Basecamp Date	2018-05-01
Summit Date	2018-05-06
Summit Time	0830
Summit Days	5
Total Days	8
Termination Date	2018-05-09
Termination Reason	1
Termination Notes	-
High Point (m)	8188
Traverse	False
Ski	True
Paraglide	False
Camps	2
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	5
Summit Members	5
Member Deaths	0
Total Hired	5
Summit Hired	5
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(29/04,5000m),ABC(30/04,5600m),C1(04/05,6400m),C2(05/05,7100m),Smt(06/05)
Route Notes	The Lightning Ascent team summited Cho Oyu nine days are departing the USA for China, arriving at Cho Oyu BC on 29 April. After arriving at base camp, they moved up to ABC the next day, staying 3 nights to acclimatize, then began their summit push on 4 May moving up to C1, to C2 on 5 May, then summiting on 6 May at 8:30 am after departing C2 at 11:30 pm. Team then descended to ABC by 4 pm that day. Sherpas for Cho+Everest: Dorji Sonam Gyalzen Sherpa Palden Namgye Sherpa Urken Lendu Sherpa Mingma Chhiring Sherpa Gyaljen Dorje Sherpa
Accidents	-
Achievement	-
Agency	Himalaya Vision
Commercial Route	True
Standard Route	True
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	False
Primary ID	EVER18170
Checksum	2460308
Year	2018
Summit Success	True
O2 Summary	Used
Route (lowercase)	nw side

Members

Field	Value
ID	71480
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	01
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	Adrian John
Last Name	Ballinger
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1976
Calculated Age	42
Citizenship	UK
Status	Leader
Residence	Olympic Valley, California
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	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	-
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	2440696
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	adrian john ballinger
Year of Birth	1976
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	42
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	71481
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	02
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	Neal Jay
Last Name	Beidleman
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1959
Calculated Age	58
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Aspen, Colorado
Occupation	Engineer & 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	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	-
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	2434697
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	neal jay beidleman
Year of Birth	1959
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	59
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	71482
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	03
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	Esteban Patricio (Topo)
Last Name	Mena Yanez
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1989
Calculated Age	28
Citizenship	Ecuador
Status	Climber
Residence	Guayacan, Ecuador
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	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	True
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	2445694
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	esteban patricio (topo) mena yanez
Year of Birth	1989
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	29
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	71483
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	04
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	James White
Last Name	Morrison
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1974
Calculated Age	43
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Tahoe City, California
Occupation	Contractor
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	True
Paraglide	False
Speed	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	-
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	Ski descent from 100m below summit to 6000m
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2440254
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	james white morrison
Year of Birth	1974
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	44
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	71484
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	05
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	Gregory Boyd (Greg)
Last Name	Penner
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1969
Calculated Age	48
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Aspen, Colorado
Occupation	Retail business manager
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	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	-
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	2438443
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	gregory boyd (greg) penner
Year of Birth	1969
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	49
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	71485
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	06
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	Dorje Sonam Gyalzen
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1981
Calculated Age	36
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	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	True
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	2nd ascent of Cho Oyu
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2442606
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	dorje sonam gyalzen sherpa
Year of Birth	1981
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	37
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	71486
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	07
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	Gyalzen Dorje (Gyaljen Dorje)
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1988
Calculated Age	30
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	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	True
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	2445059
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	gyalzen dorje (gyaljen dorje) sherpa
Year of Birth	1988
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	30
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	71487
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	08
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	Mingma Tshering (Mingma Chhiring)
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1972
Calculated Age	46
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	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	True
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; brother of Danuru/Danu & Panuru
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2439300
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	mingma tshering (mingma chhiring) sherpa
Year of Birth	1972
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	46
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	71488
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	09
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	Palden Namgye/Namgyal
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1972
Calculated Age	45
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	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	True
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	2nd ascent of Cho Oyu
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2439447
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	palden namgye/namgyal sherpa
Year of Birth	1972
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	46
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	71489
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Member ID	10
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	2018
Season	1
First Name	Urken Lendu (Urgen Tenzing)
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1993
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	False
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	8188
Summit Date 1	2018-05-06
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	True
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	(1993-2021) Died Jan 2021 near Phortse from falling
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2446880
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	urken lendu (urgen tenzing) sherpa
Year of Birth	1993
Year	2018
Age at Expedition	25
Role	Hired

10 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Adrian John Ballinger	M	1976	UK	Leader	Olympic Valley, California	Alpine guide	Details Other expeditions
Neal Jay Beidleman	M	1959	USA	Climber	Aspen, Colorado	Engineer & alpine guide	Details Other expeditions
Esteban Patricio (Topo) Mena Yanez	M	1989	Ecuador	Climber	Guayacan, Ecuador	Alpine guide	Details Other expeditions
James White Morrison	M	1974	USA	Climber	Tahoe City, California	Contractor	Details Other expeditions
Gregory Boyd (Greg) Penner	M	1969	USA	Climber	Aspen, Colorado	Retail business manager	Details Other expeditions
Dorje Sonam Gyalzen Sherpa	M	1981	Nepal	H-A Worker	Phortse, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions
Gyalzen Dorje (Gyaljen Dorje) Sherpa	M	1988	Nepal	H-A Worker	Phortse, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions
Mingma Tshering (Mingma Chhiring) Sherpa	M	1972	Nepal	H-A Worker	Phortse, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions
Palden Namgye/Namgyal Sherpa	M	1972	Nepal	H-A Worker	Phortse, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions
Urken Lendu (Urgen Tenzing) Sherpa	M	1993	Nepal	H-A Worker	Phortse, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	14077
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Reference ID	01
Year	2018
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	https://alpenglowexpeditions.com/blog/sweet-summit-success-cho-oyu/
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	14078
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Reference ID	02
Year	2018
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	https://alpenglowexpeditions.com/blog/cho-oyu-everest-team-update/
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	14152
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	CHOY18106
Reference ID	03
Year	2018
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	https://www.climbing.com/news/interview-adrian-ballinger-on-his-lightning-fast-ascents-of-cho-oyu-and-everest/
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

3 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
CHOY18106	-	-	https://alpenglowexpeditions.com/blog/sweet-summit-success-cho-oyu/	-	-	-
CHOY18106	-	-	https://alpenglowexpeditions.com/blog/cho-oyu-everest-team-update/	-	-	-
CHOY18106	-	-	https://www.climbing.com/news/interview-adrian-ballinger-on-his-lightning-fast-ascents-of-cho-oyu-and-everest/	-	-	-