Makalu | 2001 SE Pillar

A USA expedition to Makalu in 2001 via SE Pillar, led by Brendan Cusik. Summit reached on 21st April 2001. 7 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 3844
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID MAKA01103
Peak ID MAKA
Year 2001
Season 1
Host Country 1
Route 1 SE Pillar
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality USA
Leaders Brendan Cusik
Sponsor American Makalu 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 2001-04-05
Summit Date 2001-04-21
Summit Time -
Summit Days 16
Total Days 39
Termination Date 2001-05-14
Termination Reason 4
Termination Notes Abandoned at 7000m due to bad weather
High Point (m) 7000
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 0
Fixed Rope (m) 100
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(05/04,5000m),Dep(14/04,5700m),ABC(17/04,6100m),xxx(21/04,7000m)
Route Notes BC at south end of Barun Pokhari ABC deposit at level spot on SE Pillar's lowest section High point at SE Pillar. Jane Kehr developed altitude sickness and she and Brown evacuated by helicopter on 7 April; she had gotten sick even below BC on 4th. Brown returned to BC by chopper on 16 April. Team acclimatization climbing on mountain and went to col at 6800m on SE Ridge and up ridge at 7000m. Dunmire all way to Col and up ridge alone; Brown and Cusik dropped back at 6500m the next day 22 April. 28, 29, and 30th Kear and Mortenson went to Col also to acclimatize. 1 May Cusik alone to ABC. Brown joined him there on 3rd while on 2nd Cusik had gone to 6500m. 4th both to BC. 6th Kear and Cusik left BC for summit push; 6th night in ABC and 7th to Cusik's 6500m but weather totally deteriorated as snow started and whiteout, so down to BC and climb finished. One continuous push in alpine style to top impossible. Weather pattern of high wind and snow storms; no good weather in 2 continous days. Source of above information Cusik.
Accidents Dunmire abdominal adhesion and stopped climbing 6 May; Kehr evacuated due to AMS
Achievement -
Agency Windhorse Trekking
Commercial Route -
Standard Route -
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2454922
Year 2001
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) se pillar

Members

7 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Christopher D. (Chris) Brown M 1963 USA Climber San Clemente, California Firefighter Details Other expeditions
Brendan Thaddeus Cusik M 1974 USA Leader Columbia, California Alpine guide & instructor Details Other expeditions
Glenn Eugene Dunmire M 1961 USA Climber Cahone, Colorado Carpenter Details Other expeditions
John Rand Kear M 1970 USA Climber Edgewood, New Mexico Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Jane Ann Kehr F 1957 USA Climber San Clemente, California Firefighter Details Other expeditions
Cecelia D. Mortenson F 1975 USA Climber Kent, Washington Alpine guide & instructor Details Other expeditions
Carolyn Diane Parker F 1969 USA Climber Edgewood, New Mexico Alpine guide & instructor Details Other expeditions

References

1 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
MAKA01103 HIGH - - - 231:78 (Feb 2002) -