Manaslu | 1989 NE Face

A Austria expedition to Manaslu in 1989 via NE Face, led by Maximilian-Horst Fankhauser. Summit reached on 10th October 1989. 8 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 346
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID MANA89304
Peak ID MANA
Year 1989
Season 3
Host Country 1
Route 1 NE Face
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality Austria
Leaders Maximilian-Horst Fankhauser
Sponsor Tirolean Manaslu 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 Switzerland, W Germany
Approach -
Basecamp Date 1989-09-19
Summit Date 1989-10-10
Summit Time -
Summit Days 21
Total Days 25
Termination Date 1989-10-14
Termination Reason 5
Termination Notes Abandoned at 7300m due to serious avalanche
High Point (m) 7300
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 2
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 5
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 3
Summit Hired 0
Hired Deaths 0
No Hired False
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(19/09,4500m),C1(22/09,5700m),C2(03/10,6400m),xxx(10/10,7300m)
Route Notes While making route to C3 site on 10th Oct when avalanche carried 3 "Sherpas" (Tamangs actually) 150m down and sirdar buried in snow with foot sticking out and pulled out alive but unconscious by other 2 Sherpas and recovered. All members were in BC resting for ascent soon afterwards. Then leader and others decided too dangerous to continue climbing. 4 members left BC 11th and 12th Oct and Knoll with baggage on 14th. Plan was for "Sherpas" to make C3. Knoll made BC and C1 before other 4 members arrived by helicopter at Samagaon. Nima Tamang, Dorje Tamang, Nima Dorje Tamang [= 3 Sherpas] Knoll made BC and C1 before other 4 members arrived by helicopter at Samagaon. Letter from Oswald Oelz - 20 October 1989 The base camp was established at 4750m on September 26th. On the 28th of September we established C1 above the Naike Col at an altitude of approx 5600m. Subsequently there was considerable snowfall; however, on the 3rd of October a preliminary C2 was established at an altitude of approx 6300-6400m. All this was much also a work of our 3 excellent high altitude Sherpas. During the next period there was again some considerable snowfall. On the 10th of October while [returning from?] carring equipment to the planed side of C3 the three high altitude Sherpas got into a huge avalanche at an approx altitude of 6600m. This slab started without without any prior warning signs directly on the tracks of the normal route. Miraculously two of the Sherpas were only partly buried and could rescue themselves. Subsequently they found their sirdar who was rapidly digged out and who was already unconscious. With the help of the American Lapkass of the British/American Expedition who had accompanied our Sherpas and had not been avalanched, they could resuscitate him and eventually all four got back to C2. They were no major injuries, but loss of equipment including one set of a walky-talky. On the following day we accompanied our Sherpas down to base camp and abandoned the expedition due to continued danger of avalanches and time pressure.
Accidents Avalanches hit 3 'Sherpas' (Tamangs)
Achievement -
Agency Lamjung
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2451014
Year 1989
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) ne face

Members

8 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Egbert Dittrich M 1948 W Germany Climber Gernsheim, Hesse, W Germany Businessman Details Other expeditions
Walter Egger M 1936 Austria Climber Fuldmes, Tirol, Austria Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Maximilian-Horst Fankhauser M 1944 Austria Leader Neustift, Tirol, Austria Alpine guide Details Other expeditions
Josef (Josl) Knoll M 1924 Austria Climber Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria Retired civil servant Details Other expeditions
Oswald Oelz M 1943 Switzerland Climber Wernetshausen, Zurich, Switzerland Physician Details Other expeditions
Dorje Tamang M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions
Nima Tamang M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions
Nima Dorje Tamang M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions

References

2 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
MANA89304 AAJ Hawley, Elizabeth - - 64:245 (1990) -
MANA89304 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199024501/Asia-Nepal-Manaslu-Attempts-via-the-Northeast-Face-in-the-Post-Monsoon - - -