Cho Oyu | 1997 NW side

A UK expedition to Cho Oyu in 1997 via NW side, led by Sandy Allan. Summit reached on 2nd May 1997. 7 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	2233
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	CHOY97102
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	1997
Season	1
Host Country	2
Route 1	NW side
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	UK
Leaders	Sandy Allan
Sponsor	Ascent Cho Oyu
Success 1	True
Success 2	False
Success 3	False
Success 4	False
Ascent 1	238
Ascent 2	-
Ascent 3	-
Ascent 4	-
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Countries	Switzerland, USA
Approach	KTM->Tingri->BC
Basecamp Date	1997-04-09
Summit Date	1997-05-02
Summit Time	-
Summit Days	23
Total Days	0
Termination Date	-
Termination Reason	1
Termination Notes	-
High Point (m)	8188
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	3
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	5
Summit Members	2
Member Deaths	0
Total Hired	2
Summit Hired	2
Hired Deaths	0
No Hired	False
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(09/04,4815m),ABC(12/04,5700m),C1(16/04,6400m),C2(30/04,7000),C3(01/05,7600m),Smt(02/05)
Route Notes	This team went to top later than Americans (Scaturro team) because were a commercial team and wanted to be sure of acclimatization. 4 members (not Hall) and 2 Sherpas left C3 for top on 2 May with Dorje (his first 8000m) and Lhakpa Gyalzen (his first 8000m), but 2 turned back, Manley just above C3 and Surchat at 25,500 feet (very cold). US Team had to break trail above BC; yaks in snow up to 1 metre deep. Sherpa summiters: Dorje, 9 Jan 58, from Mamerku, Khumbu, 1st 8000er Lhakpa Gyalzen, 1961, from Chaurikharka, 1st 8000er
Accidents	Surchat frostnipped toe
Achievement	-
Agency	Arun Treks
Commercial Route	True
Standard Route	True
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	-
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2456303
Year	1997
Summit Success	True
O2 Summary	None
Route (lowercase)	nw side

Members

Field	Value
ID	5864
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY97102
Member ID	01
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	1997
Season	1
First Name	Alexander Roderick (Sandy)
Last Name	Allan
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1955
Calculated Age	41
Citizenship	UK
Status	Leader
Residence	Fochabers, Moray, Scotland
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	1997-05-02
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	238
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	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2433262
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	alexander roderick (sandy) allan
Year of Birth	1955
Year	1997
Age at Expedition	42
Role	Leader

Field	Value
ID	5865
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY97102
Member ID	02
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	1997
Season	1
First Name	David
Last Name	Hall
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1959
Calculated Age	37
Citizenship	UK
Status	Climber
Residence	Royton, Oldham, Gtr. Manchester, England
Occupation	Computer consultant
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
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)	0
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	19
HCN	0
Checksum	2434720
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	david hall
Year of Birth	1959
Year	1997
Age at Expedition	38
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	5866
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY97102
Member ID	03
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	1997
Season	1
First Name	James
Last Name	Manley
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1957
Calculated Age	39
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany
Occupation	Computer engineer
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
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)	7700
Summit Date 1	1997-05-02
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
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	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	4
Summit Term	8
HCN	0
Checksum	2433903
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	james manley
Year of Birth	1957
Year	1997
Age at Expedition	40
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	5867
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY97102
Member ID	04
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	1997
Season	1
First Name	James M. (Jim)
Last Name	Sparks
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1946
Calculated Age	50
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Lyons, Colorado
Occupation	Bricklayer
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	1997-05-02
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	238
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	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2430049
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	james m. (jim) sparks
Year of Birth	1946
Year	1997
Age at Expedition	51
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	5868
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY97102
Member ID	05
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	1997
Season	1
First Name	Daniel
Last Name	Surchat
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1958
Calculated Age	38
Citizenship	Switzerland
Status	Climber
Residence	Zurich, Switzerland
Occupation	Mathematician
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
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)	7770
Summit Date 1	1997-05-02
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
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	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	4
Summit Term	8
HCN	0
Checksum	2434362
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	daniel surchat
Year of Birth	1958
Year	1997
Age at Expedition	39
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	5869
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY97102
Member ID	06
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	1997
Season	1
First Name	Dorje
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1958
Calculated Age	39
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	Mamerku, 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	1997-05-02
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	238
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	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2434113
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	dorje sherpa
Year of Birth	1958
Year	1997
Age at Expedition	39
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	5870
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	CHOY97102
Member ID	07
Peak ID	CHOY
Year	1997
Season	1
First Name	Lhakpa Gyalzen
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1961
Calculated Age	35
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	Chaurikharka, 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	1997-05-02
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	238
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	1st 8000er
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	-2103
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	lhakpa gyalzen sherpa
Year of Birth	1961
Year	1997
Age at Expedition	36
Role	Hired

7 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Alexander Roderick (Sandy) Allan	M	1955	UK	Leader	Fochabers, Moray, Scotland	Alpine guide	Details Other expeditions
David Hall	M	1959	UK	Climber	Royton, Oldham, Gtr. Manchester, England	Computer consultant	Details Other expeditions
James Manley	M	1957	USA	Climber	Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany	Computer engineer	Details Other expeditions
James M. (Jim) Sparks	M	1946	USA	Climber	Lyons, Colorado	Bricklayer	Details Other expeditions
Daniel Surchat	M	1958	Switzerland	Climber	Zurich, Switzerland	Mathematician	Details Other expeditions
Dorje Sherpa	M	1958	Nepal	H-A Worker	Mamerku, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions
Lhakpa Gyalzen Sherpa	M	1961	Nepal	H-A Worker	Chaurikharka, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	5106
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	CHOY97102
Reference ID	01
Year	1997
Type	3
Journal	HIGH
Author	-
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1997
Language	-
Citation	179:28 (Oct 1997)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

1 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
CHOY97102	HIGH	-	-	-	179:28 (Oct 1997)	-