Cho Oyu. Our six-man British team, after a long and arduous approach from Nepal succeeded in placing a man on the top of Cho Oyu on April 30 by the first-ascent route. Dave Walsh, with Wes Sterritt and Dave Morris, began the summit attempt on April 29 but they were repelled by high winds. A further attempt was made in more favorable weather the following day which resulted in Walsh reaching the top late in the afternoon. He spent the night in a bivouac just below 8000 meters and finally made it back to the high camp late the following evening where Sterritt, after descending from the final rock band, had remained to wait. Bad weather hampered the retreat and it was May 5 before all had returned to Base Camp. Assistance was lent to the retreating group by a Swiss team attempting the ascent from the Tibetan side. One of the Swiss, Stefan Wörner, tragically died after reaching the summit some days later.

Alan Hunt, Scottish Mountaineering Club