Annapurna 1, Winter Attempt and Tragedy. A Korean expedition led by Kim Teuk-Hee formed the season's largest expedition of eight members and nine Nepalese in a winter attempt on the north face of Annapurna (8091 meters). On December 2, at the beginning of the steep section at about 5800 meters, a big avalanche started from 200 meters above and struck three members and three Sherpas, leaving them with a broken finger requiring an operation, plus injuries to leg, shoulder and head (they were not wearing helmets). With this accident and the expectation of more avalanches to come, plus the fact that three other members were suffering from the high altitude, the climb was abandoned. Jun Suk-Byun fell 50 meters down a hard-crusted snow slope on the second day of their trek back to Kathmandu and died six and a half hours later.

Elizabeth Hawley