Everest | 1996 S Col-SE Ridge

A France expedition to Everest in 1996 via S Col-SE Ridge, led by Bernard Muller. Summit reached on 3rd October 1996. 10 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 1846
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID EVER96306
Peak ID EVER
Year 1996
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 S Col-SE Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality France
Leaders Bernard Muller
Sponsor Stages and Expeditions French Everest 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 Belgium, Switzerland
Approach -
Basecamp Date 1996-08-30
Summit Date 1996-10-03
Summit Time -
Summit Days 34
Total Days 43
Termination Date 1996-10-12
Termination Reason 5
Termination Notes Abandoned at 7900m due to deep snow and wind
High Point (m) 7900
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 3
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 9
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 1
Total Hired 4
Summit Hired 0
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(30/08,5400m),C1(06/09,6000m),C2(08/09,6500m),C3(20/09,7250m),xxx(03/10,7900m)
Route Notes C2 in Western Cwm C3 on Lhotse Face. High point at South Col. 21 Sept Bouchon going up from C3 for acclimatization and was with load-carrying Sherpas headed for Col; avalanche (cornice or slab) from top, not big but lot of ice in it. 3 of 4 Sherpas just below yellow band hit by pieces of ice but not hurt while Lobsang Jangbu, Dawa, Konishi and Bouchon below them and to right hit badly when avalanche hit yellow band and changed direction; avalanche apparently took out fixed rope; they were attacked too. Climb continued after taking Bouchon's body and talk at length with Sherpas whether they would continue (they did after consulting Lamas). Avalanche off night of 4-5 Oct West Shoulder to BC. 3 Oct Norbu with 2 German Sherpas making route to Col and Korean Sherpas after them carrying oxygen. 4 Oct heavy snowfall and on 5th Sherpas in Icefall top also hit by small snow avalanche which covered 4 Sherpas but other Sherpas dug them out quickly. Now too much snow on the mountain and it started to be windy, so decided to stop. Hubert climbed, ate and slept with French members; not at all independent of them as he had hoped to be. 2 Belgian non-members (trekkers) illegally went into Icefall. Hubert - 29 Aug 96 Wanting to reach the three poles: reached North Pole in May 94 with Geothghebuer and will go to South Pole with crossing of Antarctica without resupplies or presupplies in '97 in 4000 km trip in 120 days - first unaided crossing even (with Goethghebuer). First to 2 small Khumbu peaks. From BC to C2 and spend 2 days there - to South Col from C2 in 6-7 hours (3-10 pm) and down to BC and wait few days for better weather. On summit push, leave BC 4-5 pm, arrive C2 4 hours later; sleep in C2 and next afternoon 3 pm, reach C3 5-6 pm, Col after 3-4 hours, then leave C4 11:00-11:30 pm for top. Man Ram Tamang may be able to keep up this pace but Goethghebuer probably not - not trying for speed record. Hubert - Post-climb Will come to Everest again maybe in spring 1999. "Very disappointed" not possible to go to top but heavy snowfall, later strong winds and need to help with rescues of German Nuptse and then 3 Everest victims prevented his going high.
Accidents 2 avalanches (1 fatal)
Achievement -
Agency Thamserku Trekking/Khumbi-ila Mt. & Trekking
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2452581
Year 1996
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) s col-se ridge

Members

10 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Yves Bouchon M 1949 France Climber Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France Surgeon Details Other expeditions
Alberto Genini M 1941 Switzerland Climber Satigny, Geneva, Switzerland Federal government official Details Other expeditions
Didier Goethghebuer M 1953 Belgium Climber Marchovelette, Belgium Agronomist Details Other expeditions
Frederique Goubault F 1960 France Climber Villars, Loire, France Marketing surveyor Details Other expeditions
Alain Hubert M 1953 Belgium Climber Harsin, Belgium Joiner & alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Daniel Mercier M 1967 France Climber Viuz-en-Sallaz, Haute-Savoie, France Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Bernard Roger Muller M 1952 France Leader Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Dirk Dansercoer M - Belgium Trekker (non-member) Huldenberg, Belgium - Details Other expeditions
Daniel Hernandez M - Belgium Trekker (non-member) Mechelen, Belgium - Details Other expeditions
Norbu Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions

References

5 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
EVER96306 AAJ - - - 71:301-302 (1997) -
EVER96306 HIGH - - - 175:84-85 (Jun 1997) -
EVER96306 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199730004/Asia-Nepal-Mount-Everest-Avalanche-and-Tragedy - - -
EVER96306 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199730100/Asia-Nepal-Mount-Everest-Post-Monsoon - - -
EVER96306 AAJ Hawley, Elizabeth - - 71:300-301 (1997) -