Everest Post-Monsoon Ascents and Tragedy and Lhotse. Aside from the Himalayan Kingdoms Expedition described below, two other groups climbed Everest. A French military expedition of nine led by Alain Estève climbed the South Col route. On October 6, François Bernard, Antoine Cayrol, Eric Gramond and Sherpas Gyalbu and Dawa Tashi reached the top, followed on the 9th by Estève, Hubert Giot and Sherpas Nuru and Gombu. On October 4, Gerard Vionnet-Fuasset and Nuru Sherpa ascended Lhotse by the normal route on the west face. Eight Spanish Basques were on the South Pillar route. On October 7, leader Juan Oiarzabal and Ongda Chhiring Sherpa completed the ascent. Tragically, one member of this party, Antonio Miranda, died in a fall on October 7.

Elizabeth Hawley