Lhotse, South Face Attempt. The nine-man Japanese Kanagawa Mountaineering Federation Expedition was led by Ryohei Uchida, supported by Mitsuo Hiroshima and Maruhisa Sunagawa. They failed to climb the steep rock south face of Lhotse. The highest point was the site of Camp IV (24,000 feet), reached on May 8 by two Japanese. The leader explained that the failure was due to the expedition’s being too small and inexperienced for such a difficult route on a high mountain. They had only five Sherpas, none of whom could be used on the face.

Michael Cheney, Himalayan Club