Everest | 1996 N Col-NE Ridge

A USA expedition to Everest in 1996 via N Col-NE Ridge, led by Craig Calonica. Summit reached on 23rd September 1996. 3 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 1985
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID EVER96308
Peak ID EVER
Year 1996
Season 3
Host Country 2
Route 1 N Col-NE Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality USA
Leaders Craig Calonica
Sponsor Ski Everest 96
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 Germany, Yugoslavia
Approach -
Basecamp Date 1996-09-13
Summit Date 1996-09-23
Summit Time -
Summit Days 10
Total Days 16
Termination Date 1996-09-29
Termination Reason 14
Termination Notes Abandoned on 22-23 Sept due to Sherpa disputes
High Point (m) 6400
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 0
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 3
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 2
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 True
O2 Unknown False
Other Summits -
Campsites BC(13/09,5200m),ABC(23-24/09,6400m),xxx(6400m)
Route Notes BC at normal route's base ABC at normal route's base from east side of North Col High point on North Face. Did no climbing. Kazi Sherpa of Indonesian Everest expedition had fixed the route and attacked Calonica's Sherpas to prevent others climbing it. Calonica had to go to KTM with flu before reaching BC and when arrived late at BC found out about Sherpas attack. Flew to Lhasa and arrived BC on 13 Sept. Gejo descended to BC 15 Sept and very sick with cerebral edema and Calonica brought him Nyalam; was really out of his mind and had to tied up at BC - so Calonica now had lost more time. Kokta had gone up 100-200m from ABC towards North Col but no real climbing experience and slow acclimatizer so went home. Now Kazi threatened Calonica as well as his Sherpas; appeared to be maniac-depressive. Calonica went to Sherpa to telephone TMA in Lhasa but this ineffective and so late now, Sherpas fearful and only Calonica and his 2 Sherpas left to climb. Calonica never went above ABC so no not to lose right to apply payment to TMA to attempt in later season. Wants to return next summer to climb Mustang Ata and thence to Everest direct to ski it in August-October. 12 Oct 96 - Henry Todd, who had long meeting with Calonica in KTM, explains Kazi's attack in Calonica's team: when Calonica was away, Kazi asked Calonica's Sherpas to carry loads when they were idle in his absence, they refused and quarrel resulted but no attack with knife - on his return to Everest, Calonica up berated Kazi and they also quarreled, but again no knife used. 26 Oct 96 - South African team not to believe anything Calonica's says; they saw no attacks, heard of nothing from other people.
Accidents Gejo serious cerebral edema; Calonica pneumonia
Achievement -
Agency Asian Trekking
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2452571
Year 1996
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) n col-ne ridge

Members

3 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Craig Calonica M 1953 USA Leader Olympic Valley, California Alpinist & skier Details Other expeditions
Slobodan Gejo M 1951 Yugoslavia Climber Nis, Serbia, Yugoslavia Cafe owner Details Other expeditions
Thomas Kokta M 1958 Germany Climber Ellensburg, Washington Professor of business administration Details Other expeditions

References

0 recorded references.