Cho Oyu, West Side from the South, Ascents and Attempt, Post-Monsoon. On September 29, Russians Vyatcheslav Skripko, leader, Mikhail Mozhayev and Yevgeny Prilepa reached the summit of Cho Oyu, having climbed in one day from 7200 meters. On October 1, the two Bulgarian members of the same expedition, Borislav Dimitrov and Miss Iordanka Dimitrova also got to the top. Miss Dimitrova is the first Bulgarian woman to have climbed an 8000er. She has climbed all 7000ers in what was the USSR, becoming the first foreign female “Snow Leopard.” A French expedition was also successful from Nepal on the western side of the peak: Max Imbert and Dawa Sherpa on October 4 and leader Michel Zalio and Kilu Temba Sherpa on October 5. These were the 95th to 98th ascents of the mountain. Three Austrians led by Rudi Mayr were unsuccessful, reaching 6500 meters on October 28 and November 4.

Elizabeth Hawley