Manaslu | 1990 NE Face

A USA expedition to Manaslu in 1990 via NE Face, led by Donald Goodman. Summit reached on 27th March 1990. 11 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 415
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID MANA90101
Peak ID MANA
Year 1990
Season 1
Host Country 1
Route 1 NE Face
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality USA
Leaders Donald Goodman
Sponsor 1990 American 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 Canada
Approach Gorkha->Buri Gandaki->Samagaon
Basecamp Date 1990-03-15
Summit Date 1990-03-27
Summit Time -
Summit Days 12
Total Days 13
Termination Date 1990-03-28
Termination Reason 6
Termination Notes Abandoned at 5200m due to fatal avalanche
High Point (m) 5200
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 1
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 9
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 2
Total Hired 5
Summit Hired 0
Hired Deaths 1
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(15/03,4200m),C1(21/03,5000m),xxx(27/03,5200m)
Route Notes BC higher normal site C1 on medial moraine of Manaslu Glacier. After 21 March, when 5 people in C1, snowed from evening of 21st till evening of 25th when diminished but never really cleared. C1 having problem keeping camp together with 2m of snow. On 26th improved weather let BC people to plan to try to go up and those in C1 to make route to C2 with BC people to resupply C1 food. But 27th in fact weather closed in again and unable to make route to C2 and team in C1 return to BC. 7:30 am BC team left for C1 and at 8:45 am C1 group left for BC. At about 9:00 am a slab broke off above C1 party when C1 team at 4700m - climax slab which broke down night to dirt - 100m long. At 9:45 am Zangbu Sherpa stumbled down from C1 and reported avalanche with people buried by avalanche (all members had avalanche beacons). Stockmyer also not buried but saw Schertz get buried but very deep (1-1/2m) dense snow and took 20 mins to uncover him but already dead; Zangbu dug himself out (buried to neck); Stockmyer went for Jackson and others from BC joined in digging her out; she equally deeply buried for 1 hr, found dead. Nima Wangchu found where Zangbu had been and he also dead. Evacuated bodies to old C1. 28th Haigh and Goodman left immediately to KTM with others to remove bodies for cremation. Haigh and Goodman hope to leave KTM immediately with "wife" of another member in KTM (she had been trekking) to await return of rest of team. Haigh and Goodman arrived KTM 4th; no word yet from the others. 15 April: Trekking agent says all other survivors returned to KTM in good health.
Accidents 3 killed in avalanche
Achievement -
Agency Jai Himal Trekking
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference -
Primary ID -
Checksum 2451183
Year 1990
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) ne face

Members

11 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Michael D. Clarke M 1933 USA Climber Redmond, Washington Aircraft engineer Details Other expeditions
Donald James Goodman M 1956 USA Leader Mercer Island, Washington Salesman, used aircraft parts Details Other expeditions
David (Dave) Gordon M 1939 USA BC Manager Salem, Oregon Teacher & diesel mechanic Details Other expeditions
John Haigh M 1952 Canada Climber Calgary, Alberta Physician Details Other expeditions
Nancy Jackson F 1955 USA Climber Federal Way, Washington Chemical engineer Details Other expeditions
John Martin Petroske M 1960 USA Climber Seattle, Washington Computer programmer Details Other expeditions
Charles (Chuck) Schertz M 1954 USA Climber Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Physician Details Other expeditions
Steven Charles (Steve) Stockmyer M 1950 USA Climber Seattle, Washington Mechanical engineer Details Other expeditions
Howard A. Weaver M 1954 USA Climber Olympia, Washington School teacher Details Other expeditions
Wangchu (Nima Wangchu) Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker Chumoa, Khumbu - Details Other expeditions
Jangbu Sherpa M - Nepal H-A Worker - - Details Other expeditions

References

3 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
MANA90101 AAJ Goodman, Donald - - 65:236-237 (1991) -
MANA90101 MM - - - 134:9 (Jul 1990) -
MANA90101 - - http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199123602/Asia-Nepal-Manaslu-Tragedy - - -