Makalu | 1955 Makalu La-NW Face

A France expedition to Makalu in 1955 via Makalu La-NW Face, led by Jean Franco. Summit reached on 15th May 1955. 15 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 2950
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID MAKA55101
Peak ID MAKA
Year 1955
Season 1
Host Country 1
Route 1 Makalu La-NW Face
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality France
Leaders Jean Franco
Sponsor -
Success 1 True
Success 2 False
Success 3 False
Success 4 False
Ascent 1 1st-3rd
Ascent 2 -
Ascent 3 -
Ascent 4 -
Claimed False
Disputed False
Countries -
Approach Arun Valley->Barun Valley
Basecamp Date 1955-04-04
Summit Date 1955-05-15
Summit Time -
Summit Days 41
Total Days 0
Termination Date -
Termination Reason 1
Termination Notes -
High Point (m) 8485
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 6
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 11
Summit Members 8
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 25
Summit Hired 1
Hired Deaths 0
No Hired False
O2 Used True
O2 None False
O2 Climb True
O2 Descent False
O2 Sleep True
O2 Medical False
O2 Taken False
O2 Unknown False
Other Summits Climbed Pethangtse (PETH-551-01)
Campsites BC(04/04,4700m),C1(5300m),C2.ABC(5800m),C3(07/05,6400m),C4(08/05,7000m),C5(09/05,7410m),C6(14/05,7800m),Smt(15-17/05)
Route Notes -
Accidents -
Achievement -
Agency -
Commercial Route -
Standard Route False
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2438143
Year 1955
Summit Success True
O2 Summary Used
Route (lowercase) makalu la-nw face

Members

15 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Michel Latreille M - France Scientist - Geologist Details Other expeditions
Jean Franco M 1914 France Leader - - Details Other expeditions
Jean Couzy M 1923 France Climber Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France - Details Other expeditions
Lionel Terray M 1921 France Climber - - Details Other expeditions
Guido Magnone M 1917 France Climber - - Details Other expeditions
Jean Bouvier M 1920 France Climber - - Details Other expeditions
Pierre Leroux M 1921 France Climber - - Details Other expeditions
Serge Coupe M 1925 France Climber - - Details Other expeditions
Andre Vialatte M 1917 France Climber - - Details Other expeditions
Gyaltsen Norbu Sherpa M 1918 India Sirdar - - Details Other expeditions
Pierre Bordet M 1914 France Scientist - Geologist Details Other expeditions
Andrea Lapras M - France Exp Doctor - Physician Details Other expeditions
Da Norbu Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions
Pemba Tenzing Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker Khumjung, Khumbu - Details Other expeditions
Gunden Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions

References

13 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
MAKA55101 HJ Franco, Jean Makalu - The Happy Mountain - 19:68-74 (1955-56) -
MAKA55101 - Franco, Jean Makalu Jonathan Cape, London - F183
MAKA55101 AJ Franco, Jean Makalu - 61:13-28 (May 1956) -
MAKA55101 AAJ - - - 30:139 (1956) -
MAKA55101 MW Franco, Jean The Happy Mountain - 124-128 (1956-57) -
MAKA55101 MW Vialatte, Andre Makalu 1955 - 129-142 (1956-57) -
MAKA55101 MM Dyhrenfurth, G. O. & Dyhrenfurth, Norman Makalu - 64:46-49 (Nov 1978) -
MAKA55101 - Franco, Jean Makalu Arthaud, Paris - F183
MAKA55101 - Terray, Lionel Conquistadors of the Useless Gollancz, London - T75
MAKA55101 - Terray, Lionel Les Conquerants de l'Inutile Gallimard, Paris - T75
MAKA55101 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12195613901/Asia-Nepal-Makalu - - -
MAKA55101 - - https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/19/5/makalu-the-happy-mountain/ - - -
MAKA55101 - - https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1956_files/AJ61%201956%2013-28%20Franco%20Makalu.pdf - - -