Asia, Nepal, Pumori Pre-Monsoon Attempt, Ascent and Tragedy

Publication Year: 1993.

Pumori Pre-Monsoon Attempt, Ascent and Tragedy. Two Germans and an Austrian led by Christof Drechsel attempted to climb Pumori (7161 meters, 23,494 feet) by the normal route. They reached a high point of 6300 meters on March 24. Some time later, a South Korean expedition of five, led by Seo Seoung-Soo, attempted the peak. On May 12, the leader Seo, Seo Yeong-Deok, Kim Baek-Gyoon and Nepalese Bhakta Bahadur Rai completed the 73rd ascent of the mountain by the seldom climbed southwest ridge. They returned to their high camp and vanished. When a teammate and a Sherpa went up to learn what had become of them, they found that an avalanche had swept the high camp completely away. The only thing remaining at the site was one glove lying on the snow. Their bodies have not been found.

Elizabeth Hawley