Kangtega | 2003 E Face (same as Groom in Winter 2001)

A Australia expedition to Kangtega in 2003 via E Face (same as Groom in Winter 2001), led by Michael Groom. Summit reached on 3rd December 2003. 6 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 4496
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID KTEG03401
Peak ID KTEG
Year 2003
Season 4
Host Country 1
Route 1 E Face (same as Groom in Winter 2001)
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Australia
Leaders Michael Groom
Sponsor Australian Kangtega 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 -
Approach -
Basecamp Date 2003-11-28
Summit Date 2003-12-03
Summit Time -
Summit Days 5
Total Days 12
Termination Date 2003-12-10
Termination Reason 5
Termination Notes Abandoned at 5400m due to deep snow and avalanche above
High Point (m) 5400
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 1
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 6
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 3
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 Attempted Kusum Kanguru; climbed Mera (Groom, Baker and Castel)
Campsites BC(28/11,4800m),C1(01/12,5100m),xxx(03/12,5400m)
Route Notes BC at 4800m last grass south of Hinku valley to Tengma village, north to Hinku Glacier C1 at 5100m junction of Hinku Nuptse and Kangtega Glaciers High point on East Face. Baker and Groom first attempted South Buttress of Kusum Kanguru and reached 5600m; cold for Groom (new boots "not working") and Baker down with him. Because of that, climb was too technical to move fast enough to keep warm. On Kangtega got only 4-1/2 hours direct sunlight at C1 because of the narrow valley. From BC north up Himla Glacier. From C1 on 3 Dec Baker, Castel and Groom attempted to establish C2 at 5500m on East Face, but at 5400m snow up to their waist and saw signs of avalanches high on the face, so decided not safe higher and retreated to C1. Other 3 members turned back below 5400m at different places because of the deep snow. On 4th and 5th cleared all equipment and went to BC. On 5th and 6th had all equipment back in BC. From BC all went to Mera. Baker, Castel and Groom summited Mera on 8 Dec and all left BC on 10th.
Accidents Nothing
Achievement -
Agency Su-Swagatam Treks
Commercial Route -
Standard Route -
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference False
Primary ID -
Checksum 2455610
Year 2003
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) e face (same as groom in winter 2001)

Members

6 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Robin Matthew (Rob) Baker M 1976 Australia Climber Adelaide, SA, Australia Weapons designer in Australian Defense Force Details Other expeditions
Robin Alexander Breuer M 1970 Australia Climber Taringa, QLD, Australia Director of company that develops websites Details Other expeditions
Ryan Anthony Castel M 1980 Australia Climber Bellbowrie, QLD, Australia Student of environmental science Details Other expeditions
Michael Graeme Groom M 1959 Australia Leader Coorparoo, Brisbane, QLD, Australia Public speaker & alpinist Details Other expeditions
Marilyn Jackson F 1974 Australia Climber Baulkham Hills, Sydney, NSW, Australia Designer/patternmaker of outdoor clothing Details Other expeditions
James Pfunder M 1980 Australia Climber Sherwood, QLD, Australia Accountant Details Other expeditions

References

0 recorded references.