Cho Oyu | 1987 SE Face-E Ridge

A Switzerland expedition to Cho Oyu in 1987 via SE Face-E Ridge, led by Norbert Joos. Summit reached on 20th September 1987. 3 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 309
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID CHOY87302
Peak ID CHOY
Year 1987
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 SE Face-E Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Switzerland
Leaders Norbert Joos
Sponsor Swiss Cho Oyu Expedition
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 -
Basecamp Date 1987-09-08
Summit Date 1987-09-20
Summit Time -
Summit Days 12
Total Days 24
Termination Date 1987-10-02
Termination Reason 5
Termination Notes Abandoned at 7600m due to dangerous snow conditions
High Point (m) 7600
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 0
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 3
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 BC(08/09,5150m),Biv1(17/09,6100m),Biv2(18/09,6600m),Biv3(19/09,7400m),Biv4(20/09,7600m),xxx(20/09,7600m)
Route Notes BC at Dyazumpa west side of Lungsampa Glacier near junction with Ngozumpa Glacier High point at 4 biv by all three members. From 8th to 16th bad weather. On 16th reached 6300m on region for acclimatization, but too much dangrous snow to go higher to top of point 6500m due south of Cho Oyu. On 17th started up Cho Oyu (all 3 members). Then as got high, encountered waist-deep snow: wind-blown powdered snow, also very hot. Climbed from 7400m to 7600m in night, and feared starting avalanches. On 21st down to BC. 30th Sept up from BC all 3 members and went to 6600m in night. 1st Oct 6:00 pm up to 7100m on same route. Slept till early morning 2nd Oct and then saw too dangerous from avalanching above and returned to BC. Then more snow and more wind from north so no further chance of success. Route is very good with less snow. Route to the right (as you look at mountain) of Nairz-Koblmueller-Messner route. Joos feared he had pulmonary edema when descended on 21st Sept to 6600m and asked for helicopter but after slept there, was better, down to BC 22nd and called off helicopter and was strong enough after medications to resume climb, but still today not fully recovered so did not go Everest. Other 2 members went to Everest BC perhaps only to visit.
Accidents Joos lungs (edema, bronchitis)
Achievement -
Agency Nepal Himal
Commercial Route False
Standard Route -
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2452736
Year 1987
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) se face-e ridge

Members

3 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Peter Alig M 1961 Switzerland Climber Richterswil, Zurich, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Louis Deuber M 1959 Switzerland Climber Zollikon, Zurich, Switzerland Technician, food machinery Details Other expeditions
Norbert Joos M 1960 Switzerland Leader Chur, Graubunden, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions

References

2 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
CHOY87302 AAJ Cheney, Michael J. & Hawley, Elizabeth - - 62:210 (1988) -
CHOY87302 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198821003/Asia-Nepal-Swiss-Cho-Oyu-Attempt - - -