Kangchenjunga South | 1987 SW Face (to right of main peak)

A Belgium expedition to Kangchenjunga South in 1987 via SW Face (to right of main peak), led by Alain Hubert. Summit reached on 14th October 1987. 3 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 891
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID KANS87301
Peak ID KANS
Year 1987
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 SW Face (to right of main peak)
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Belgium
Leaders Alain Hubert
Sponsor Belgian Expedition to Kangchenjunga South
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 -
Approach Hile->Taplejung
Basecamp Date 1987-09-23
Summit Date 1987-10-14
Summit Time -
Summit Days 21
Total Days 29
Termination Date 1987-10-22
Termination Reason 4
Termination Notes Abandoned at 8000m due to loss of all gear at C2 during bad snow storm
High Point (m) 8000
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 2
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 3
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(23/09,5500m),C1(28/09,6200m),C2(05/10,7200m),xxx(14/10,8000m)
Route Notes BC at normal site C1 just below icefall - for acclimatization C2 on Great Shelf High point near top of Great Couloir. Hubert attempted to solo South Summit on Oct 14. Forced to bivouac at 8000m by strong winds and heavy pack. On second summit bid Oct 22, Hubert went to C2 but could find no trace of camp. Huge snowstorm hit Oct 19-20 and either blew away or buried C2. All Hubert's down clothing and food for summit bid was lost, so climb finished. Hubert intended to descend from Great Shelf by paraglider, but too was lost at C2. Hubert tried summit in one day from BC but lost his way in the night on South Face and biv about 7000m - 15 kg rucksack too heavy to go in one day. Was good weather: improved as they arrived at BC. Hubert left BC 2:00 am 14 Oct and biv 10:00 pm; had hoped reach top midday 15th and return to C2 in solo climb to top and next teammates at C1. Was to use parapente from C2, but too heavy rucksack and too windy so 15th all down (other 2 were already in C2 -a rrived there day before in support). Down to BC on 15th. On Great Shelf there was deep snow. Hubert again left BC 22nd after big storm without support of others. When arrived at C2 no camp could be found and all his very warm clothes food parapente and other essential gear: all under very deep snow or blown away by storm. So climb finished and left BC 23 Oct. C1 also disappeared (1 tent here, 2 at C2).
Accidents None
Achievement 1st Belgian attempt
Agency Khumbi-ila Mt. & Trekking
Commercial Route -
Standard Route -
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2449655
Year 1987
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) sw face (to right of main peak)

Members

3 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Alain Hubert M 1953 Belgium Leader Harsin, Belgium Carpenter Details Other expeditions
Louis Lange M 1953 Belgium Climber Ambly, Belgium Woodcutter Details Other expeditions
Pierre Soete M 1949 Belgium Climber Hyon, Belgium Physician Details Other expeditions

References

2 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
KANS87301 AAJ Cheney, Michael J. & Hawley, Elizabeth - - 62:187-188 (1988) -
KANS87301 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198818704/Asia-Nepal-Kangchenjunga-South-Attempt - - -