Accident Reports ANAM
Fall on Rock, Protection Failed, New York, Shawangunks, Boston

FALL ON ROCK, PROTECTION FAILEDNew York, Shawangunks, BostonOn November 6, a climber (53) fell about 30 feet from the crux of Boston (5.4+ or 5.5, PG). A cam placed two or three feet below the point from which he fell failed (broke). The next pro ...


In Memoriam AAJ
Ray Genet, 1931-1976

RAY GENET 1931-1979“What is the source of this man’s energy? He runs everywhere, even at 20,000 feet while I labor over every step. Above Archdeacon’s Tower it occurred to me that if I should stop for some reason, Genet could— and would—carry me u...


Book Reviews AAJ
Ascent. The Spiritual and Physical Quest of Willi Unsoeld

Ascent. The Spiritual and Physical Quest of Willi Unsoeld, by Laurence Leamer. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1982. 392 pages, eight plates of black-and-white photographs, and N.G.S. pictorial drawing of Mount Everest. $17.50.This biography of a gr...


Accident Reports ANAM
Faulty Use of Crampons, Exhaustion, Haste, Inexperience, Washington, Mount Rainier

FAULTY USE OF CRAMPONS, EXHAUSTION, HASTE, INEXPERIENCEWashington, Mount RainierOn June 14, 1987, Sterling Thomas, and Paul McClelland, both members of the Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit, were descending the upper Kautz Glacier with Joseph McNeill...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
South America, Argentina, Southern Patagonia, Chalten Massif, Punta Herron, Spigolo dei Bimbi, Second Ascent

Punta Herron, Spigolo dei Bimbi, second ascent. On the evening of October 30 David Fasel, Ueli Steck, Ralph Weber, and I, all Swiss, set up base camp at the Campo De Agostini. It snowed like it was winter. The weather had apparently been nothing b...


Book Reviews AAJ
The Eiger Sanction

The Eiger Sanction, by Trevanian. New York: Crown, 1972, 316 pages, $6.95This is an incredibly readable novel. Its crisp imagery and brisk style are the hallmarks of a great writer. Simple words and phrases abound at the proper times. “Mauve and p...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Antarctica, Antarctic Peninsula, Mt. Shackleton, South Face-West Ridge; Wandel Peak, North Ridge to Summit Mushroom

Mt. Shackleton, south face-west ridge; Wandel Peak, north ridge to summit mushroom. At the end of January 2006 we headed for the Antarctic Peninsula on board the yacht Le Sourire. Our Spanish TVE expedition comprised Sebastian Alvaro, Ester Sabade...


In Memoriam AAJ
Joseph William Andrew Hickson, 1873-1956

JOSEPH WILLIAM ANDREW HICKSON 1873-1956A member of our club since 1910, pioneer in the Canadian Rockies, and formerly professor of psychology at McGill University, Dr. Hickson died suddenly at his home in Montreal on April 22, 1956. Noel Odell, en...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Pakistan, Rakaposhi Attempt

Rakaposhi Attempt. A Slovene expedition led by Janez Skok headed in June for the Garhwal Himalaya through Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan up to the Indian frontier, where they were halted because the Panjab was closed. They waited for ten days...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
South America, Peru, Southern Peru, Chicon III, Cordillera Urubamba

Chicon III*, Cordillera Urubamba. This peak is the southernmost one of three forming Chicon, northeast of Cuzco. It is given as 5572 meters (18,281 feet). I climbed it from Urubamba on September 30 with the American Jeff Salz by the prominent snow...


Accident Reports ANAM
Fall on Descent Trail, Weather, California, Yosemite Valley, North Dome Gully

FALL ON DESCENT TRAIL, WEATHERCalifornia, Yosemite Valley, North Dome GullyOn May 13, 1991, after having completed an overnight climb of the Royal Arches, Carter Phelps (49) and climbing partner Ron Merkes (23) attempted to descend to Yosemite Val...


Book Reviews AAJ
The Lost Explorer: Finding Mallory on Mt. Everest

The Lost Explorer: Finding Mallory on Mt. Everest. Conrad Anker and David Roberts. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1999. 192 pages. $22.00.In 1924, it took ten days for the news to reach London that George Mallory and Andrew Irvine had disappeared o...


Accident Reports ANAM
Fall on Rock, Inadequate Belay Anchor/Lowering Error — Nylon-on-Nylon, California, Yosemite Valley, Royal Arches

FALL ON ROCK, INADEQUATE BELAY ANCHOR/LOWERING ERROR – NYLON-ON-NYLONCalifornia, Yosemite Valley, Royal ArchesOn May 21, Curtis Rappe (24) climbed a single-pitch route near the base of Royal Arches while being belayed from below. At the top he thr...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Jordan, Wadi Rum, New Routes from 2006 and 2007

New routes from 2006 and 2007. In October and November of both 2006 and 2007, James Garrett from the USA and Andreas (Res) von Känel from Switzerland (a mountain guide and brother of the late Jurg von Kanel) climbed a number of new routes in and a...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
South America, Argentina, Cordón de Portillo

Cordón de Portillo. Climbers from the club Andinista Mendoza made a number of first ascents in this range, which also lies southeast of Aconcagua. These were Gemelo Norte, 17,700 feet, January 13, 1956, and Torre del Campanario, 17,050 feet, Janua...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Pakistan, Karakoram, Ghujerab Mountains, First Koksil Glacier, Peaks 5,636m, 5,609m, and 5,626m

First Koksil Glacier, Peaks 5,636m, 5,609m, and 5,626m. From August 8 to 19 Frank Gasser, from Italy, and Katarzyna Karwecka-Wielicka, Krzysztof Wielicki, and I, from Poland, explored the Koksil (Kuksel or Kuksil) Valley.The first expedition here ...


Feature Article AAJ
The Kangshung Face of Everest

The Kangshung Face of EverestGeoffrey C. TabinThe 1981 AMERICAN Mount Everest Expedition to China made the first climbing attempt on the vast east face, the Kangshung Face, of Chomolungma. We succeeded in convincing ourselves that the face can and...


Book Reviews AAJ
Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada

Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. Photographs by Ansel Adams, and selections from the works of John Muir, edited by Charlotte E. Mauk. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1948. 132 pages, 64 plates. Price, $6.50.John Muir will doubtless remain, for an...


In Memoriam AAJ
John L. J. (Jerry) Hart, 1904-1986

JOHN L. J. (JERRY) HART 1904-1986John Lathrop Jerome (Jerry) Hart, President of the American Alpine Club from 1970 until 1973, died April 27, 1986 at his home in Laguna Niguel, California at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife Jane, his thre...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Pakistan, Baltoro Muztagh, Trango Group,Trango Tower (6251m), South Pillar, Eternal Flame - Pou Brothers Variant

Trango Tower (6,251m), south pillar, Eternal Flame—Pou Brothers Variant. After arriving in base camp on July 11, mountain journalist Jabi Baraiazarra, my brother Iker, and I spent the next few weeks climbing Eternal Flame. In generally bad weather...