Mount Blackburn, 1977. Two Japanese expeditions in 1977 climbed Mount Blackburn (16,390 feet) from 7200 feet on the Nebesna Glacier via the northwest ridge. A four-man party led by Katsuaki Kawamura got to the summit on April 24, 1977. On June 12, the six-man expedition led by Haymi Odo climbed to the top by the same route.