Kangchenjunga | 1987 SW Face

A Australia expedition to Kangchenjunga in 1987 via SW Face, led by Michael Groom. Summit reached on 10th October 1987. 2 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 278
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID KANG87301
Peak ID KANG
Year 1987
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 SW Face
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Australia
Leaders Michael Groom
Sponsor Australian Kangchenjunga Expedition
Success 1 True
Success 2 False
Success 3 False
Success 4 False
Ascent 1 23rd
Ascent 2 -
Ascent 3 -
Ascent 4 -
Claimed False
Disputed False
Countries -
Approach Hile->Taplejung
Basecamp Date 1987-08-30
Summit Date 1987-10-10
Summit Time -
Summit Days 41
Total Days 43
Termination Date 1987-10-12
Termination Reason 1
Termination Notes -
High Point (m) 8586
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 4
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 2
Summit Members 2
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(30/08,5300m),C1(6100m),C2(6500m),C3(7100m),C4(7900m),Smt(10/10)
Route Notes Climbed SW Face in semi-alpine style without Sherpas or oxygen. On descent their vision became blurred and thinking badly affected. As result they did not realize that an avalanche had wiped out their tracks and they could not see their camp at 7900m. Unable to find C4 in dark, Groom fell into crevasse. Both members spent the night out without equipment at 7900m. Next day they found their tent 100m away. This was the cause of serious frostbite to Groom's feet and Coulton's fingers and feet.
Accidents Frostbite (both men will lose parts of fingers and toes)
Achievement -
Agency Kunga
Commercial Route -
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2449606
Year 1987
Summit Success True
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) sw face

Members

2 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
John William Coulton M 1956 Australia Climber Maidstone, Victoria, Australia Physician Details Other expeditions
Michael Graeme Groom M 1959 Australia Leader Beechmont, QLD, Australia Plumber Details Other expeditions

References

3 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
KANG87301 AAJ Cheney, Michael J. & Hawley, Elizabeth - - 62:187 (1988) -
KANG87301 MM - - - 120:10-11 (Mar 1988) -
KANG87301 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198818702/Asia-Nepal-Kangchenjunga - - -