Makalu | 1997 Makalu La-NW Ridge

A Switzerland expedition to Makalu in 1997 via Makalu La-NW Ridge, led by Claude Bitz, Serge Bonvin. Summit reached on 20th April 1997. 2 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	2281
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	MAKA97102
Peak ID	MAKA
Year	1997
Season	1
Host Country	1
Route 1	Makalu La-NW Ridge
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	Switzerland
Leaders	Claude Bitz, Serge Bonvin
Sponsor	Swiss 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	1997-04-02
Summit Date	1997-04-20
Summit Time	-
Summit Days	18
Total Days	27
Termination Date	1997-04-29
Termination Reason	4
Termination Notes	Abandoned at 7300m due to bad weather
High Point (m)	7300
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	1
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	2
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(02/04,5200m),C1(10/04,6300m),xxx(20/04,7300m)
Route Notes	BC at junction of glacier CI at flat area at turn of Chago Glacier Tried to go from C1 to top but very cloudy and snow every day. On 20th April both members went from C1 to 7300m but because snowstorm, windy, down to BC same day. Bonvin tried again to go up at night of 24th or 25th on full moon night but after 2 hours stopped but windy and cloudy (no moonlight) and avalanche danger from wind and no rope; reached 6000m only.
Accidents	None on mountain
Achievement	-
Agency	Khumbi-ila Mt. & Trekking
Commercial Route	-
Standard Route	True
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	False
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2453591
Year	1997
Summit Success	False
O2 Summary	None
Route (lowercase)	makalu la-nw ridge

Members

Field	Value
ID	18124
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	MAKA97102
Member ID	02
Peak ID	MAKA
Year	1997
Season	1
First Name	Claude
Last Name	Bitz
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1959
Calculated Age	37
Citizenship	Switzerland
Status	Climber
Residence	Ayent, Valais, Switzerland
Occupation	Construction supervisor
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	7300
Summit Date 1	1997-04-20
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	2434659
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	claude bitz
Year of Birth	1959
Year	1997
Age at Expedition	38
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	18125
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	MAKA97102
Member ID	01
Peak ID	MAKA
Year	1997
Season	1
First Name	Serge
Last Name	Bonvin
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1962
Calculated Age	35
Citizenship	Switzerland
Status	Leader
Residence	Ayent, Valais, Switzerland
Occupation	Mechanic & driver
Leader	True
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	7300
Summit Date 1	1997-04-20
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	1
Summit Term	3
HCN	0
Checksum	2435672
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	serge bonvin
Year of Birth	1962
Year	1997
Age at Expedition	35
Role	Leader

2 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Claude Bitz	M	1959	Switzerland	Climber	Ayent, Valais, Switzerland	Construction supervisor	Details Other expeditions
Serge Bonvin	M	1962	Switzerland	Leader	Ayent, Valais, Switzerland	Mechanic & driver	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	5072
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	MAKA97102
Reference ID	01
Year	1997
Type	3
Journal	HIGH
Author	-
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1997
Language	-
Citation	179:20 (Oct 1997)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

1 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
MAKA97102	HIGH	-	-	-	179:20 (Oct 1997)	-