Gurja Himal Ascent and Tragedy. A joint expedition of nine Japanese and three Nepalese climbed Gurja Himal from the Kaphe Khola, west of the peak, up the west ridge and northwest face. They had three high camps. On April 29, the leader Soichi Kobayashi, Ms. Yoshiko Kasho, Shigeru Ogasawara, Michio Sakurai, Ang Temba Sherpa and Nawang Choplang reached the summit (7193 meters, 23,600 feet). During the descent, at 6800 meters Kobayashi’s crampon broke and he fell 40 meters. He was badly injured and died during the night. Plans to climb Dhaulagiri VI and Churen Himal were abandoned.

Michael J. Cheney, Himalayan Club, and Elizabeth Hawley