Everest | 2016 N Col-NE Ridge

A UK expedition to Everest in 2016 via N Col-NE Ridge, led by Chris Harling. Summit reached on 22nd May 2016. 9 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 9201
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID EVER16174
Peak ID EVER
Year 2016
Season 1
Host Country 2
Route 1 N Col-NE Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality UK
Leaders Chris Harling
Sponsor Adventure Peaks Everest North Expedition 2016
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 -
Approach Kathmandu->Lhasa->Tingri
Basecamp Date 2016-04-19
Summit Date 2016-05-22
Summit Time 0440
Summit Days 33
Total Days 36
Termination Date 2016-05-25
Termination Reason 1
Termination Notes -
High Point (m) 8849
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 3
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 6
Summit Members 4
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 3
Summit Hired 2
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(19/04,5200m),IC(21/04),ABC(22/04,6400m),C1(06/04,7000m),C2(20/05,7500m),C3(21/05,8300m),Smt(22/05)
Route Notes From Adventure Peaks website: 21st May 10:00pm Nepali Time The whole team reached the top camp between 12:30pm & 2:30pm Nepali time today. For the last 8-10 hours they have been resting, cramming in what calories they can manage to consume and trying to keep hydrated. After years of preparation for each memeber of the team it all comes down to the next 8-12 hours to achieve, what for some will have been a life long ambition, of standing on the highest point on earth. Chris called to say the team left right on time at 10pm Nepali time and so far everything is looking good for their bid. Mick is continuing to not use oxygen, but has made the decision to carry 2 cylinders just in case. All being well the next update will be from when the team reach the NE Ridge in hopefully a couple of hours time. 21st May 11:45pm Nepali Time Chris has just made a very brief call. The team have made it to 8400m, the junction point with the NE Ridge. All the team are going well. They are now 1km from the summit, albeit it normally takes 6-8 hours to climb that final kilometer! 22nd May 04:40am Nepali Time Great news, just after first light, Mick Allen is the first climber to reach the summit this morning. He switched over to using oxygen from about 8400m after his feet started to get really cold, so a really sensible decision by Mick to carry the oxygen. The oxygen made a huge difference and he started to get feeling back in his feet after 10 minutes. Not sure if he was also drinking rocket fuel while he was up their but he’s made the summit in fantastic time. The rest of the team are still making their way up towards the summit and will hopefully join him soon. 22nd May 08:30am Nepali Time Another succesful summit bid is accomplished. A big well done to the team for their efforts. Chris has just left a very muffled message (he didn't take his mask off when talking), it seems despite having signal and trying to keep the sat phone warm in his suit he was struggling to make a call connect. From what I've been able to decipher from the call Al Ball & Andrew Smith decided to turn round just below the 1st Step and are back down at Camp 3. The rest of the team carried on and reached the summit around 5am Nepali time Mick, Chris, Andrew Whyte & Phurba, closely Followed by Andrew Taylor & Lhakpa. They are now on descent to Camp 3. At the time of the call Chris was with Andrew Whyte and about 25 minutes away from camp where he will call again. Andy Taylor is not too far behind with Lhakpa. We wish them a safe journey back down the mountain. 22nd May 11:44am Nepali Time Chris has just called in from Camp 3 to give an update on the teams progress and clarify the events of the summit morning. The weather forecast the team received turned out to be pretty accurate, early on the clouds were coming and going and there were light winds, but the increased humidity menat that it did eventually cloud out and there was a light dusting of snow. The winds did pick up later on to around 20 knots, which didn't cause major issues for the summit bid, but the wind combined with the humidity meant that their suits & zippers were rimmed up with ice, causing a Chris a problem of not being able to get the phone out of his suit for considerable time, as well as radio microphones icing up. The team decided to have planned split departure times with Mick, Al & Phurba leaving at 8pm last night, Andrew Taylor, Andrew Smith & Lhakpa at 9pm and Andrew Whyte, Chris & Phurba at 10pm. Al Ball & Andrew Smith decided to head down with Phurba just below the 1st Step at around 8550m, a tremendous effort for both of them, and are now down at Camp 2 and planning to clear down to the North Col today. Mick reached the summit around 4:40am followed by Chris, Andrew Whyte & Phurba at 5am. Andy Taylor & Lhakpa reached the summit around 5:30am. Due to the wind & cold Chris said they spent around 15 minutes on the top before heading back down the mountain. Mick is already on his way down to Camp 2 at 7600m. Chris, Andrew Whyte, Andy Taylor, Phurba & Lhakpa have been having a bit of well earned R&R at Camp 3, and just as Chris was calling in, they were about to set off down to Camp 2.
Accidents -
Achievement -
Agency Makalu Adventure
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2459592
Year 2016
Summit Success True
O2 Summary Used
Route (lowercase) n col-ne ridge

Members

9 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Christian Hamish Harling M 1973 UK Leader Penrith, Cumbria, England Alpine instructor Details Other expeditions
Andrew Smith M - UK Climber - - Details Other expeditions
Andrew James Whyte M 1993 UK Climber St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland Student Details Other expeditions
Andrew (Andy) Taylor M 1969 UK Climber Holmfirth, W Yorkshire, England - Details Other expeditions
Michael (Mick) Allen M 1978 UK Climber Cockermouth, Cumbria, England Engineer Details Other expeditions
Alistair Ball M 1960 UK Climber Bangor, Wales Electrician Details Other expeditions
Lakpa Dendi Sherpa M 1977 Nepal H-A Worker Solukhumbu - Details Other expeditions
Phurba Ongel Sherpa M 1981 Nepal H-A Worker Sedua, Makalu-Barun - Details Other expeditions
Phurba Wangchhu Sherpa M 1975 Nepal H-A Worker Waku-9, Solukhumbu - Details Other expeditions

References

5 recorded references.