Lhotse, Solo Attempt. In the second week of October Reinhold Messner climbed through the Khumbu Icefall and the Western Cwm to 24,275 feet along the route of the 80-man Italo-Nepalese Everest expedition accompanied by its Sherpas. He went from the 17,700-foot Base Camp to 24,275 feet in two mornings’ climbing. On the third morning he climbed up to 25,600 feet, where bad weather defeated him, and descended back down to Base Camp.

Michael J. Cheney, Himalayan Club