Everest Attempts and Tragedy in the Post-Monsoon. In September, the monsoon continued till late in the month and brought large amounts of snow and great avalanche danger. At the beginning of October, it was as if someone had turned on the wind machine. No ascents were completed. Mingma Norbu Sherpa, who was with the Norwegians, was killed by an avalanche on September 12. All climbed the North Col route except where noted. The unsuccessful expeditions with numbers, leaders and altitude reached follow: 6 Americans led by Tony Lewis reached 8300 meters on the north face to the Great Couloir on October 19; 9 Czechs and 2 Italians led by Josef Rakoncaj, 7300 meters also on the north face on September 10 and 26; 8 Frenchmen led by Daniel Petraud, 7500 meters on September 4 and 20; 22 Norwegians led by Jon Gangdal, 7060 meters on the north rib to the west ridge on September 7; 77 Russians led by Sergei Yefimov, 8300 meters on October 11; 5 Spaniards led by Rogelio Recio, 8100 meters on September 25; and 6 Swiss, 2 Austrians, 1 German, 1 American, 1 Bolivian and 1 Indonesian led by German Peter Kowalzik, 8200 meters on September 28.

Elizabeth Hawley