Everest | 1997 N Col-NE Ridge

A USA expedition to Everest in 1997 via N Col-NE Ridge, led by Craig Calonica. Summit reached on 12th September 1997. 6 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 2454
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID EVER97305
Peak ID EVER
Year 1997
Season 3
Host Country 2
Route 1 N Col-NE Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality USA
Leaders Craig Calonica
Sponsor Everest North Face Ski 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 Germany
Approach -
Basecamp Date 1997-08-30
Summit Date 1997-09-12
Summit Time -
Summit Days 13
Total Days 41
Termination Date 1997-10-10
Termination Reason 7
Termination Notes Abandoned at 7000m due to retinal trouble of leader
High Point (m) 7000
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 0
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 3
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 0
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(30/08,5200m),ABC(08-09/09,6400m),xxx(12/09,7000m)
Route Notes High point at North Col. Made cache at North Col: Bridwell, Lhakpa and Dawa and Kami on 12-13 Sept and Sherpas again twice, last time on 16-17 Sept. During this time Calonica down to a village because of altitude sickness. Calonica returned to ABC after 8 days but never recovered strength, went down to ABC with Bridwell on 29th from ABC. Colombians reported to Bridwell in KTM that Colonica had developed serious altitude sickness and should return to KTM in next few days. Calonica skied around bottom of mountain but never up to Col. He said his one eye still is giving blurred images, perhaps due to damage from violent coughing. He remained at BC days after Bridwell had left because he kept hoping his eye would became normal and he could climb, but after he talked by satellites telephone with doctors in KTM, he was convinced of the danger of going higher.
Accidents Calonica altitude sickness, retinal hemorrhage on eye; Kami throat problem
Achievement -
Agency Asian Trekking
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2452971
Year 1997
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) n col-ne ridge

Members

6 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
James D. (Jim) Bridwell M 1944 USA Climber Palm Desert, California Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Craig Calonica M 1953 USA Leader Olympic Valley, California Alpinist & skier Details Other expeditions
Martina Stimmerling F 1960 Germany BC Manager Olympic Valley, California Architect Details Other expeditions
Lhakpa Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions
Kami Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions
Dawa Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions

References

0 recorded references.