Yalungkang Tragedy. A nine-man Mexican expedition was led by José Manuel Casanova. They were on the south-face route of the Austro-German expedition of 1975. They established four high camps. Hugo Saldana and Alfonso Medina never returned from their summit bid, in which Chawang Rinze Sherpa also participated. All these men reached 27,500 feet. The Sherpa turned back because of freezing fingers. He reports he heard Saldana shout that he was on the summit. Medina was trying to go to the top, but the Sherpa doubts he succeeded. Neither Mexican was ever seen again.

Michael J. Cheney, Himalayan Club