Makalu | 2002 Makalu La-NW Ridge

A Switzerland expedition to Makalu in 2002 via Makalu La-NW Ridge, led by Norbert Joos. Summit reached on 16th May 2002. 2 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 4076
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID MAKA02101
Peak ID MAKA
Year 2002
Season 1
Host Country 1
Route 1 Makalu La-NW Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Switzerland
Leaders Norbert Joos
Sponsor Swiss Makalu Expedition
Success 1 True
Success 2 False
Success 3 False
Success 4 False
Ascent 1 75th
Ascent 2 -
Ascent 3 -
Ascent 4 -
Claimed False
Disputed False
Countries -
Approach -
Basecamp Date 2002-04-11
Summit Date 2002-05-16
Summit Time 1030
Summit Days 35
Total Days 36
Termination Date 2002-05-17
Termination Reason 1
Termination Notes -
High Point (m) 8485
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 3
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 True
O2 Unknown False
Other Summits -
Campsites BC(11/04,5650m),C1(19/04,6550m),C2(25/04,7400m),C3(15/05,7600m),Smt(16/05)
Route Notes Swiss opened way to C1 and Spanish-Italian teams followed them. Joos knew route from 2001: direct line northeast side of rock in middle of Chago Glacier. Night of 25th horrible stormy night, worst Joos ever experienced. 26th down to BC. More than a week in BC with hell weather. Up again 4 May to C2 with plan to go to top from C2 5 May but bad decision on line to take on north side so down to BC on 5th in same day. Another week bad weather. 14th up from BC to C2. 15th from C2 to C3 and made camp there at 7600m at bottom of steep face on Tibetan side. 16th Reichen to top with Italian Silvio Mondinelli at 10:30 am having left C3 at 3:00 am. Joos on top at 12:30 pm in nice weather. Joos not full strength because not keeping down food and water. Both down to BC same day at 5:30 pm (Reichen) and 8:00 pm (Joos). Team enroute to BC held up at Tashigaon, the last village, by men with rifles but not in uniform claiming to be Maoists. Demanded Rs 10,000 and 1 camera from each person and gave receipts which trekking agent said were not genuine Maoist receipts, which are printed and rubber stamped.
Accidents -
Achievement -
Agency Himalayan High Country Treks
Commercial Route -
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2455313
Year 2002
Summit Success True
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) makalu la-nw ridge

Members

2 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Norbert Joos M 1960 Switzerland Leader Chur, Graubunden, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Jakob (Kobi) Reichen M 1960 Switzerland Climber Richemont, Lucerne, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions

References

3 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
MAKA02101 HIGH - - - 244:55 (Mar 2003) -
MAKA02101 AAJ Hawley, Elizabeth - - 77:400 (2003) -
MAKA02101 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12200340000/Janak-Himal-Maoist-Encounters-Spring-Season-Commentary - - -