Everest | 2003 S Col-SE Ridge

A Belgium expedition to Everest in 2003 via S Col-SE Ridge, led by Bernard De Launoit. Summit reached on 22nd May 2003. 17 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 4274
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID EVER03126
Peak ID EVER
Year 2003
Season 1
Host Country 1
Route 1 S Col-SE Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Belgium
Leaders Bernard De Launoit
Sponsor Everest 2003
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 France, Switzerland
Approach Standard
Basecamp Date 2003-04-08
Summit Date 2003-05-22
Summit Time 0655
Summit Days 44
Total Days 47
Termination Date 2003-05-25
Termination Reason 1
Termination Notes -
High Point (m) 8849
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 4
Fixed Rope (m) 800
Total Members 13
Summit Members 3
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 10
Summit Hired 4
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(08/04,5310m),C1(15/04,6100m),C2(26/04,6450m),C3(19/05,7150m),C4(20/05,7980m),Smt(22/05)
Route Notes May 20: Figliolini, Pallandre, Zuberer, and four Sherpas left South Col at 22:00 hours; below balcony 8350m there were about 250 people. Storm started, so back to South Col at 01:30 of 21st. Most of the expeditions went further down to lower camps. Three Sherpas (Irish, Belgium and Nepal Army, all of them climbing instructors) agreed between themselves to open up the way. May 21: Five Sherpas led the way up. From Balcony Belgium expedition Sherpa Ang Norbu led, behind him was Pemba Rinzi of Army and Palladre till South Summit. Ang Norbu having pain in leg asked Pemba (army) to help lead. From onward the order in line was Pemba, Ang Norbu, Pallandre, Figliolini, Zuberer. All summited at 06:55 hours of 22nd. Spent about 15/20 minutes; there were prayer flags, oxygen bottle (orange colour). Met two Koreans from north side, maybe one Tibetan. While descending the team met army team at Hillary Step. Members came down to C2 where they arrived at 16:30 hours. Ang Norbu to BC at 16:30 hours, next day to Namche. The Ministry however, did not broadcast the ascent for few days. Expedition liaison officer was not at BC. He was in KTM due to sickness. The expedition ascent news was sent at same time to Pabil Trekking and Ministry. The Ministry announced the Army expedition was the first expedition to ascend on 22nd. Summiters returned to KTM on 27 and rest on 23rd; leave all together on 30th. Leader said that the expedition to make 3 documentaries, each of 52 minutes, that will be aired over TV channels on Oct 03. Note: Michel got fracture leg on 28 April while returning from C3->C2, treated at BC and remained at BC. De Launoit and Michel returned to KTM on 26th. Summit Sherpas: Ang Norbu, 7/7/67, home village, Namche but now lives in Kathmandu Thile Nurbu, 28, Chaplung, Chaurikharka VDC, Khumbu, 1st 8000er Pasang Nuru (name as monk - Nawang Lobsang), 34, Thamo, 1st 8000er Mingma Ongel, 31, Sedua, Makalu VDC, 1st 8000er
Accidents Delachat fell down at the beginning of icefall on Apr 15th in the morning (6 am), right shoulder badly injured, evacuated on same day at 9 am by helicopter (19 or 20th left for France)
Achievement 1st ascent of the season
Agency Pabil Treks
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference False
Primary ID -
Checksum 2458880
Year 2003
Summit Success True
O2 Summary Used
Route (lowercase) s col-se ridge

Members

17 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Karl Autrique M 1962 Belgium Climber Brussels, Belgium Graphic designer Details Other expeditions
Anselme Francois Baud M 1948 France Deputy Ldr/Climbing Ldr Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Eric Berclaz M 1961 Switzerland Climber Orsieres, Valais, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Sebastien Cruyt M 1971 Belgium Climber Brussels, Belgium Architect Details Other expeditions
Henri De Gerlache M 1973 Belgium Climber Brussels, Belgium Film director Details Other expeditions
Christophe Delachat M 1957 France Climber Passy, Haute-Savoie, France Alpine guide & cameraman Details Other expeditions
Bernard De Launoit M 1964 Belgium Leader Brussels, Belgium Television producer Details Other expeditions
Sebastien Rene Figliolini M 1969 France Climber Courchevel, Savoie, France Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Pierre Haelterman M 1958 Belgium Climber Brussels, Belgium Cameraman Details Other expeditions
Jean-Francois Michel M 1968 Belgium Climber La Hulpe, Belgium Private investor Details Other expeditions
Francois Pallandre M 1966 France Climber Les Houches, Haute-Savoie, France Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Didier Van den Bossche M 1966 Belgium Climber Rode, Brabaut, Belgium Photographer Details Other expeditions
Alexia Zelda Cecile Zuberer F 1972 Switzerland Climber Chambesey, Geneva, Switzerland Ski instructor Details Other expeditions
Ang Norbu Sherpa M 1967 Nepal H-A Worker Namche Bazar, Khumbu - Details Other expeditions
Thile Nurbu (Thile Nuru) Sherpa M 1974 Nepal H-A Worker Chheplung, Khumbu - Details Other expeditions
Pasang Nuru (Nawang Lobsang) Sherpa M 1962 Nepal H-A Worker Thamo, Khumbu - Details Other expeditions
Mingma Ongel Sherpa M 1968 Nepal H-A Worker Walung, Makalu-9, Makalu-Barun - Details Other expeditions

References

0 recorded references.