Asia, Nepal, Tawoche Winter Ascent and Tragedy

Publication Year: 1986.

Tawoche Winter Ascent and Tragedy, 1986. This joint expedition was led by Korean Oh In-Hwan. They climbed the southeast face to the southeast ridge, the same route as that of the Japanese in the spring of 1985. They were really two separate teams. The Japanese arrived in Nepal first and began climbing while the leader awaited his members in Kathmandu. The Koreans had hardly arrived at Base Camp, on January 3, 1986, when Japanese Atsuyoshi Kakomoto was killed in a fall. The Japanese withdrew, having got no higher than 5800 meters. The Koreans persevered. Heo Young-Ho and Ang Phurba Sherpa went to the summit (6501 meters, 21,327 feet) on January 12, 1986. Heo had previously also climbed Makalu and Manaslu.

Michael J. Cheney, Himalayan Club, and Elizabeth Hawley