Everest | 1997 N Col-NE Ridge

A Poland expedition to Everest in 1997 via N Col-NE Ridge, led by Ryszard Pawlowski. Summit reached on 21st May 1997. 7 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 2250
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID EVER97117
Peak ID EVER
Year 1997
Season 1
Host Country 2
Route 1 N Col-NE Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Poland
Leaders Ryszard Pawlowski
Sponsor Patagonia Mountain Agency (PMA) International Everest Expedition 1997
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, Portugal, USA
Approach -
Basecamp Date 1997-04-13
Summit Date 1997-05-21
Summit Time -
Summit Days 38
Total Days 41
Termination Date 1997-05-24
Termination Reason 8
Termination Notes Abandoned at 8110m due to lack of supplies and leadership
High Point (m) 8100
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 3
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 7
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 0
Summit Hired 0
Hired Deaths 0
No Hired True
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(13/04,5200m),ABC(16/04,6400m),C1(24/04,7000m),C2(30/04,7100m),C3(21/05,8100m),xxx(21/05,8100m)
Route Notes C1 at North Col C2 in other's tent C3 by Garcia's and Debrouwer's tent. Tent for C2 was destroyed by wind so Anna slept in Indonesian tent on 7 May while Piotr had slept in Brice tent on 30 April. With strong winds, no Sherpas, members had to carry gear several times as replacements. They were not really a coordinated team with a "leader." Pawlowski was with Indonesians and no one served as leader-coordinator. Had agreement that could use Indonesian tents. Plywacz and Jakubczyk returned to KTM on 16 May, Czerwinska and Schleypen on 21 May, Snopczynski and Garcia on 25 May (with Pawlowski). Garcia and Debrouwers were only climbers of this "group" to go above 8000m (except Kowalzik and advisor Pawlowski). They went to 8100m and slept in Russell Brice tent on 21 May and down to ABC on 23rd because hadn't enough food and gas; felt not so strong probably (climbed slowly on 21st). Garcia took oxygen to C3 but did not use it. Garcia: I expected Ryszard to be our leader but he was brought by the Indonesians. Had no idea this would be a "cocktail expedition," i.e., a leaderless group of people who didn't know each other. Ryszard Pawlowski thought he could handle both expeditions but couldn't - was too exhausted to handle this group. Garcia didn't realize so many people would be using the same kitchen and kitchen staff; was supposed to be a team of 4-6 Poles, Schleypen and Garcia, but found others also on same permit. Poles not young and Schleypen was 60. Poles and Schleypen were waiting for Pawlowski's instructions/decisions and said they couldn't climb high without Sherpas to carry their oxygen. Garcia found independent climber Debrouwer was same age group as he joined up with him.
Accidents Plywacz stomach trouble and headache
Achievement -
Agency Asian Trekking
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2452812
Year 1997
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) n col-ne ridge

Members

7 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Anna Barbara Czerwinska F 1949 Poland Climber Warsaw, Poland Clothing importer and shopkeeper Details Other expeditions
Joao Jose Silva Abranches Garcia M 1967 Portugal Climber Lisbon, Portugal Trekking guide Details Other expeditions
Czeslaw (Kuba) Jakubczyk M 1950 Poland Organizer Gdansk, Poland High school teacher Details Other expeditions
Ryszard Jan Pawlowski M 1950 Poland Leader Katowice, Poland Alpinist Details Other expeditions
Kris Plywacz M 1940 USA Climber Countryside, Illinois Technician (paper industry) Details Other expeditions
Ruediger Schleypen M 1937 Germany Climber Freising, Bavaria, Germany Electrical engineer Details Other expeditions
Piotr Snopczynski M 1950 Poland Climber Swidnica, Poland Teacher Details Other expeditions

References

3 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
EVER97117 AAJ Hawley, Elizabeth - - 72:306-308 (1998) -
EVER97117 HIGH - - - 179:22-23 (Oct 1997) -
EVER97117 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199830603/Asia-Nepal-Everest-in-the-Pre-Monsoon - - -