Makalu | 1997 Makalu La-NW Ridge (slight variation)

A Switzerland expedition to Makalu in 1997 via Makalu La-NW Ridge (slight variation), led by Christophe Berclaz. Summit reached on 10th October 1997. 7 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 2466
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID MAKA97302
Peak ID MAKA
Year 1997
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 Makalu La-NW Ridge (slight variation)
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Switzerland
Leaders Christophe Berclaz
Sponsor Swiss Makalu Expedition 1997
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 1997-09-13
Summit Date 1997-10-10
Summit Time -
Summit Days 27
Total Days 39
Termination Date 1997-10-22
Termination Reason 4
Termination Notes Abandoned at 8000m due to wind
High Point (m) 8000
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 3
Fixed Rope (m) 0
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(13/09,5400m),C1(22/09,6400m),C2(24/09,7000m),C3(28/09,7400m),xxx(10/10,8000m)
Route Notes BC on west side of Chago Glacier moraine C1 at bottom of steep section C2 at top of gully southeast of Makalu La C3 at Makalu La High point at just before rock pinnacle. Pitched C1 on 17th then down to BC. After C3 slept in down again. Georges: "slept 5 times at Makalu La and five times windy." Roux forced back 8000m on 10th Oct because of wind.
Accidents Melly serious spinal back problem and left team 25 Sept by helicopter
Achievement -
Agency Sherpa & Swiss Adventures
Commercial Route -
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference False
Primary ID -
Checksum 2453764
Year 1997
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) makalu la-nw ridge (slight variation)

Members

7 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Christophe Berclaz M 1966 Switzerland Leader Le Chable, Valais, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Gabriel Besson M 1972 Switzerland Climber Verbier, Valais, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Andre Georges M 1953 Switzerland Climber Les Hauderes, Valais, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Gerald Maret M 1968 Switzerland Climber Lourtier, Valais, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Claude Melly M 1972 Switzerland Climber Sierre, Valais, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Christian-Pierre Portmann M 1962 Switzerland Climber St. Jean, Valais, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Frederic George Gilbert Roux M 1972 Switzerland Climber Verbier, Valais, Switzerland Alpine guide Details Other expeditions

References

1 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
MAKA97302 HIGH - - - 188:20 (Jul 1998) -