Cho Oyu | 1980 W Ridge-W Face

A W Germany expedition to Cho Oyu in 1980 via W Ridge-W Face, led by Hans Dieter Sauer. Summit reached on 14th October 1980. 1 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 2681
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID CHOY80301
Peak ID CHOY
Year 1980
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 W Ridge-W Face
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality W Germany
Leaders Hans Dieter Sauer
Sponsor -
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 -
Approach Lamusangu->Namche->Thame->Nangpa La
Basecamp Date 1980-10-07
Summit Date 1980-10-14
Summit Time -
Summit Days 7
Total Days 9
Termination Date 1980-10-16
Termination Reason 7
Termination Notes Abandoned at 7600m due to cold hands and feet
High Point (m) 7600
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 2
Fixed Rope (m) 90
Total Members 1
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 False
O2 Unknown False
Other Summits -
Campsites ABC(07/10,6000m),C1(10/10,6350m),C2(13/10,6900m),xxx(14/10,7600m)
Route Notes Approach: Walked from Lamusangu and arrived in Namche on 28 Sept. During his attempt in 1978, Sauer realized that a solo ascent would be possible; however, he knew that he had to be a bit better prepared. When he crossed the Nangpa La, he was very careful not to get caught and did not see a soul on his crossing. ABC 6000m 07/10 C1 6350m 10/10 C2 6900m 13/10 HPt 7600m 14/10 by Sauer at noon. Fixed about 90m of rope between 6350m and 6900m, which was handy on the way down. Left Namche on 1 Oct. Having already equipment at the mountain his load was only 40 kg this time, so he did not split it. Realizing that the surveillance at Thame was lax he dared to go via Thame and could indeed pass the sentry without being noticed. He arrived at the foot of the mountain on 7 Oct. He regained his deposit of 1978 and proceeded on the snow ridge establishing himself near the spot of C1 of Tichy. Then he fixed about 90m of rope on an ice cliff (6700m) (see Tichy's book, photo opposite p65 and p76, German edition) and moved on to establish himself at an altitude around 6900m (beneath C4 of Tichy). On 14 Oct he left C2 at 5:30 am (Nepali time). He reached 7600m (just below the Yellow Band) at noon and felt that he had cold fingers and toes. He knew that he could have made it to the summit in about four or five hours, however, his worry about frostbite was stronger and so he decided to turn back. On his descent, a hard slab of snow broke, he slipped and skidded down for about hundred metres, distance not height. He had lost consciousness for a while, but fortunately he did not get badly hurt, only his nose was broken. He continued to descend to 6900m, packed up his tent and descended to 6350m, where he pitched his tent and spent the night. On 15 Oct, he descended via the scree ridge (the route taken by Tichy and nowadays the normal route) to the foot of the mountain and crossed the Nangpa La on 16 Oct. Oxygen: not taken, not used.
Accidents -
Achievement -
Agency None
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference False
Primary ID -
Checksum 2450152
Year 1980
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) w ridge-w face

Members

1 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Hans Dieter Sauer M 1941 W Germany Leader Pahl, Bavaria, W Germany Natural science journalist Details Other expeditions

References

0 recorded references.