Asia, Nepal, Pumori, German Southwest Ridge Ascent

Publication Year: 1988.

Pumori, German Southwest Ridge Ascent. All four members reached the summit. On October 24, the successful climbers were leader Jürgen Knappe and brothers Peter and Rainer Bolesch. Two days later South Tirolean Josef Anton Holzer, who had been ill at the time of his teammates’ ascent, climbed to the top. They had two camps above Base Camp. The Japanese were difficult people to share the route with. In fact, according to them, the Japanese had been given permission for a different ridge but were on the southwest ridge by the time this team arrived at Base Camp. They fixed a vast amount of rope, but they cut out small sections before leaving the mountain. At Base Camp, they opened unused gas cylinders, which caused fumes to enter the Europeans’ tents and made them sick.

Michael J. Cheney, Himalayan Club, and Elizabeth Hawley