Everest | 1996 S Col-SE Ridge

A USA expedition to Everest in 1996 via S Col-SE Ridge, led by Peter Athans. Summit reached on 11th May 1996. 8 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 1745
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID EVER96123
Peak ID EVER
Year 1996
Season 1
Host Country 1
Route 1 S Col-SE Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality USA
Leaders Peter Athans
Sponsor American Everest Expedition 1996
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 Switzerland, UK
Approach -
Basecamp Date 1996-04-15
Summit Date 1996-05-11
Summit Time -
Summit Days 26
Total Days 41
Termination Date 1996-05-26
Termination Reason 4
Termination Notes Abandoned on 21 May due to continuous winds, client's morale weakening, monsoon condition threatening soon
High Point (m) 7900
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 4
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 8
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 11
Summit Hired 0
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(15/04,5400m),C1(19/04,6100m),C2(21/04,6500m),C3(10/05,7300m),C4(11/05,7900m),xxx(11/05,7900m)
Route Notes C1 at top of Icefall C2 in Western Cwm C3 on Lhotse Face (reached 28 April but not slept in) C4 at South Col High point at South Col. 10th May summit party all members except Benedikt and 5 Sherpas to C3 planning summit bid 12th May. But 5:00 am on 11th learned on radio system that up to 18 people unaccounted for or known stranded, so Athans and Burleson only went up to C4 to help in rescue work while Williams left at C3 to look after clients and set up medical aid station there (clients went down to C2 on 12th). Weathers arrived at Col at 5:00 pm and Athans and Burleson able to get him stabilized and got him dressed next day and escorted him down to C2 afternoon became clear weather wasn't improving and more help not coming up - everybody down 13 May BC from all teams. Another summit bid mounted on 16th, when next to C1 and 17th to C2: this party were Athans, Bridges, Corfield, Burleson, Williams and 5 Sherpas - stayed at C2 till 21st looking at wind and testing mood of remaining clients and realizing season coming to end with monsoon snows could come early. 2 clients mood not strong for continuing climbs and leaders didn't want to expose them and Sherpas to deteriorating Icefall and heavy snowfall. Made wrong decision to stop perhaps, but "were conservative." Cataclysm of 10th May causing Athans to reconsider his job as guide.
Accidents Benedikt pneumonia or pulmonary edema at C3 on 28 April
Achievement -
Agency Sherpa Shangri-La Trekking
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2452436
Year 1996
Summit Success False
O2 Summary Used
Route (lowercase) s col-se ridge

Members

8 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Peter George (Pete) Athans M 1957 USA Leader Boulder, Colorado Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Perrin Benedikt M 1966 Switzerland Climber Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Steve Bridges M 1947 USA Climber Sierra Vista, Arizona Electrical engineer Details Other expeditions
Randy Todd Burleson M 1960 USA Climber Woodinville, Washington Alpine guide & mountaineering organizer/businessman Details Other expeditions
Charles Nicholas Corfield M 1959 UK Climber Palo Alto, California Computer manufacturing company executive Details Other expeditions
Kenneth Mark (Ken) Kamler M 1947 USA Exp Doctor New Hyde Park, New York Physician Details Other expeditions
Dierk Maass M 1943 Switzerland Climber Zurich, Switzerland Physician Details Other expeditions
James Malone (Jim) Williams M 1954 USA Climber Jackson, Wyoming Alpine guide Details Other expeditions

References

1 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
EVER96123 - Kamler, Kenneth Doctor on Everest Lyons Press, New York - -