Norbu Kang, first official ascent. During the summer, Japanese led by Tamotsu Ohnishi made the first ascent of Norbu Kang, a recently opened 6,005m peak in the Upper Dolpo region of northwest Nepal. From a base camp pitched on June 20 at 4,805m, west of the mountain, they moved to a higher camp (5,250m) two days later, and on the 23rd climbed to the west col (5,490m), returning to high camp later that day. On the 25th they fixed 50m of rope on the north face, which they followed to the summit via snow/ice slopes broken by two crevasses. They were back in base camp the same day. The summiteers were Chhulsim Nuru Sherpa, Kanchha Dawa Sherpa, Ms. Tazuko Inoue, Koji Mizutani, Ohnishi, and Takehiko Yanigahara.

Elizabeth Hawley, Nepal