Tawoche | 1987 SE Face-SE Ridge (to 6350m)

A UK expedition to Tawoche in 1987 via SE Face-SE Ridge (to 6350m), led by Malcolm Duff. Summit reached on 2nd October 1987. 10 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	284
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
Host Country	1
Route 1	SE Face-SE Ridge (to 6350m)
Route 2	E Face (to 5500m)
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	UK
Leaders	Malcolm Duff
Sponsor	British Tawoche 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	USA
Approach	Pheriche
Basecamp Date	1987-09-14
Summit Date	1987-10-02
Summit Time	-
Summit Days	18
Total Days	0
Termination Date	-
Termination Reason	5
Termination Notes	Abandoned at 6350m due danger snow slabs and eventually to Duff's illness
High Point (m)	6350
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	0
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	10
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(14/09,4250m),ABC1(16/09,5200m),ABC2(04/10,5200m),xxx(02/10,6350m)
Route Notes	BC in valley across river from Pheriche ABC.1 southeast of mountain for SE Face attempt ABC.2 at Tawoche Glacier for East Face attempt High point 150m below final summit. ABC at 5200m for SE Face climb and over next week got 2 clients to 6100m on route on which Duff and Black fixed rope for them but no higher camps pitched, then clients ran out of steam and they left BC 24th Sept leaving Duff and Black (no one from Ama Dablam joined them). Black and Duff went back up and started from ABC 11 pm 1st Oct, climbed all night and got to 6350m on the final summit slope at 8:30 am on 2nd. Did not climb final slope of 150 vertical meters because of danger smow slabs. Immediately descended to BC which reached at 6 pm on 2nd. On 4th moved tent for E Face attempt, 1 km away from old ABC and placed it at same altitude at foot of Tawoche glacier, but now Duff suffering from effects of huge tapeworm. Scrambled 300m upwards on 6th and stayed in a camp there. 12th heard some Ama Dablam climbers missing and went to see; they weren't. But Duff getting worse, so no further climbing.
Accidents	Duff tapeworm; nothing else
Achievement	-
Agency	Mountain Travel
Commercial Route	-
Standard Route	-
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	False
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2450633
Year	1987
Summit Success	False
O2 Summary	None
Route (lowercase)	se face-se ridge (to 6350m)

Members

Field	Value
ID	21072
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	03
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	Richard
Last Name	Best
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1961
Calculated Age	26
Citizenship	UK
Status	Climber
Residence	Plymouth, Devon, England
Occupation	Project assistant, civil engineering
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	7
HCN	0
Checksum	2435532
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	richard best
Year of Birth	1961
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	26
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	21073
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	02
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	Andrew Robert (Andy)
Last Name	Black
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1959
Calculated Age	28
Citizenship	UK
Status	Deputy Leader
Residence	Edinburgh, Scotland
Occupation	Alpine guide
Leader	False
Deputy	True
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)	6350
Summit Date 1	1987-10-02
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	4
Summit Term	4
HCN	0
Checksum	2434606
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	andrew robert (andy) black
Year of Birth	1959
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	28
Role	Deputy

Field	Value
ID	21074
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	01
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	Malcolm (Mal)
Last Name	Duff
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1953
Calculated Age	34
Citizenship	UK
Status	Leader
Residence	Culross, Fife, Scotland
Occupation	Alpinist
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)	6350
Summit Date 1	1987-10-02
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	(1953-1997) Died 22 Apr 1997 at Everest BC from heart attack
Summit Bid	4
Summit Term	4
HCN	0
Checksum	2432491
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	malcolm (mal) duff
Year of Birth	1953
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	34
Role	Leader

Field	Value
ID	21075
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	04
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	Betty
Last Name	Hall
Sex	F
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1952
Calculated Age	35
Citizenship	UK
Status	Climber
Residence	Beith, Ashire, Scotland
Occupation	Supervisor, project
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	7
HCN	0
Checksum	2432028
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	betty hall
Year of Birth	1952
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	35
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	21076
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	05
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	James
Last Name	Hall
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1954
Calculated Age	33
Citizenship	UK
Status	Climber
Residence	Beith, Ashire, Scotland
Occupation	Electrical engineer
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	7
HCN	0
Checksum	2432734
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	james hall
Year of Birth	1954
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	33
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	21077
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	06
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	Richard
Last Name	Nowack
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1940
Calculated Age	46
Citizenship	USA
Status	Climber
Residence	Julian, California
Occupation	Dishwasher
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	7
HCN	0
Checksum	2427970
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	richard nowack
Year of Birth	1940
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	47
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	21078
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	08
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	John Wilson
Last Name	Parnham
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1957
Calculated Age	29
Citizenship	UK
Status	Climber
Residence	Snitterfield, Warwick, England
Occupation	Teacher
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	7
HCN	0
Checksum	2434106
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	john wilson parnham
Year of Birth	1957
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	30
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	21079
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	09
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	Richard George
Last Name	Parsley
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1959
Calculated Age	28
Citizenship	UK
Status	Climber
Residence	Weston-super-Mare, Avon, England
Occupation	Welder
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	7
HCN	0
Checksum	2434679
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	richard george parsley
Year of Birth	1959
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	28
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	21080
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	07
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	Nicholas
Last Name	Paish
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1964
Calculated Age	23
Citizenship	UK
Status	Climber
Residence	London, England
Occupation	Student, medical
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	7
HCN	0
Checksum	2436381
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	nicholas paish
Year of Birth	1964
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	23
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	21081
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Member ID	10
Peak ID	TAWO
Year	1987
Season	3
First Name	Gwyn
Last Name	Roberts
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1960
Calculated Age	26
Citizenship	UK
Status	Climber
Residence	Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales
Occupation	Electrical engineer
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)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
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	7
HCN	0
Checksum	2435235
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	gwyn roberts
Year of Birth	1960
Year	1987
Age at Expedition	27
Role	Member

10 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Richard Best	M	1961	UK	Climber	Plymouth, Devon, England	Project assistant, civil engineering	Details Other expeditions
Andrew Robert (Andy) Black	M	1959	UK	Deputy Leader	Edinburgh, Scotland	Alpine guide	Details Other expeditions
Malcolm (Mal) Duff	M	1953	UK	Leader	Culross, Fife, Scotland	Alpinist	Details Other expeditions
Betty Hall	F	1952	UK	Climber	Beith, Ashire, Scotland	Supervisor, project	Details Other expeditions
James Hall	M	1954	UK	Climber	Beith, Ashire, Scotland	Electrical engineer	Details Other expeditions
Richard Nowack	M	1940	USA	Climber	Julian, California	Dishwasher	Details Other expeditions
John Wilson Parnham	M	1957	UK	Climber	Snitterfield, Warwick, England	Teacher	Details Other expeditions
Richard George Parsley	M	1959	UK	Climber	Weston-super-Mare, Avon, England	Welder	Details Other expeditions
Nicholas Paish	M	1964	UK	Climber	London, England	Student, medical	Details Other expeditions
Gwyn Roberts	M	1960	UK	Climber	Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales	Electrical engineer	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	342
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Reference ID	01
Year	1987
Type	2
Journal	AAJ
Author	Cheney, Michael J. & Hawley, Elizabeth
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1988
Language	-
Citation	62:199-200 (1988)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	4384
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Reference ID	02
Year	1987
Type	3
Journal	MM
Author	-
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1988
Language	-
Citation	120:11 (Mar 1988)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	12218
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	TAWO87301
Reference ID	03
Year	1987
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198819904/Asia-Nepal-Tawoche-Attempt
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

3 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
TAWO87301	AAJ	Cheney, Michael J. & Hawley, Elizabeth	-	-	62:199-200 (1988)	-
TAWO87301	MM	-	-	-	120:11 (Mar 1988)	-
TAWO87301	-	-	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198819904/Asia-Nepal-Tawoche-Attempt	-	-	-