Cho Oyu in the Post-Monsoon Season. A large number of expeditions were on the Tibetan side of Cho Oyu climbing the standard route. Before his speed climb on Everest, Marc Batard made a remarkable ascent of Cho Oyu in company with Sundare Sherpa. Without tracks left by anyone high on the mountain, these two set out from Base Camp at 5700 meters, climbed to the summit of Cho Oyu in 21 hours, reaching the top on September 1, and were back in Base Camp 29 hours after they had started. Other than climbs mentioned separately, there were the following. A large commercial group led by Michel Vincent was composed of 15 French, a Spaniard, a Swiss and a Belgian. French guide Daniel Bovéro died of pulmonary edema during a preliminary excursion to the Everest Base Camp, which was to have provided acclimatization. On September 12, Bruno Cormier, Erik Decamp, Raymond Eyenard-Machet, Bruno Gouvy, Mlle Véronique Perillat, Vincent, Ang Dorje Sherpa and Da Gombu Sherpa got to the summit. They were followed on September 14 by Belgian Jean-Michel Hoeffelman, Spaniard Jose Luis Sesma, Vincent and Da Gombu again and Lhakpa Gyalu Sherpa. On September 13, an Italian group led by Fabio Agostinis placed Elvio Ferigo and Alberto Busettini on top. On September 17, Italians Sergio Martini and Fausto De Stefani made the ascent. Another Italian expedition first unsuccessfully tried the north ridge, getting to 6800 meters on September 12, before the leader Mario Conti, Mario Panzeri, Floriano Castelnuovo and Lorenzo Mazzoleni got to the summit on September 27 by the normal route. On October 16, Pole Piotr Henschke was successful. On November 6, Noboru Yamada and three other Japanese made the ascent.

Elizabeth Hawley