Dhaulagiri IV Tragedy. Five Austrian climbers, Richard Hoyer, leader, Peter Lavicka, Peter Nemec, Kurt Ring and Kurt Reha, with Sherpa Tensing Nindra, were lost on Dhaulagiri IV (25,133 feet), presumably in an avalanche which may have overwhelmed their west-ridge Camp V, at 22,650 feet, some time between November 9 and 11. No signs of their bodies were ever seen in ground and air search. They flew to Pokhara on September 17 and reached Base Camp on October 1 after approaching from the south via the Mayangdi and Konaban rivers. After arrival at Base, they could see that it was to be an extremely difficult climb. To surmount a rock barrier they climbed a long ridge, which they compared to the Peuterey ridge of Mont Blanc. They placed three camps along this ridge, at 16,250, 18,850 and 20,100 feet. Surviving members of the expedition are Dr. Klaus Kubiena, Oskar Krammer, Leo Graf and Wolfgang Müller-Jungblut.