To Climb the "Unclimbable"

It’s been 41 years since Barry Bishop and three others were the first to make it to the summit of a mountain that Sir Edmund Hillary had previously called “unclimbable” and “fantastically difficult.” This month, Wally Berg and Barry Bishop’s son, Brent, are co-guiding an expedition for Berg Adventures International that will follow the same route up the southwest ridge. Please join us for continuous expedition coverage.

Ama Dablam - A Historical Perspective

© Barry Bishop CollectionSlides and historical background on the 1961 "Silver Hut" expedition

BAI Expedition Dispatches:

October 23 - Old friends and new adventures ahead

Later October 23rd - On the trail again

October 25 - Inspiring view and great news

October 26 - Too much apple pie?

October 27 - Two Monasteries, a Yeti Scalp and Ang Temba’s House in Pangboche

October 30 - Pheriche

Lobuche Peak Base Camp - the 31st of October

November 1st - Mountaineering dreams come true

November 2nd - Success on Lobuche Peak

November 2 - After Lobuche Peak

November 3rd - Onward to Ama Dablam

November 5 - Pooja day at BAI Ama Dablam base camp

November 6 - From “Yak Camp” to Camp One

November 7 - "Nothing but air under your feet"

November 10 - Three generations of Bishop climbers

November 11 - Picking Mushrooms at 20,000'

November 12 - BAI team on the Summit of Ama Dablam!

November 14 - Slippery Descent

Expedition Recap - Ama Dablam Summit Day

More summit day photos

Still more photos from summit day

BAI Ama Dablam 2002, Final Dispatch

Ama Dablam 2002
BAI team:


Wally Berg,
Canmore, Alberta
Brent Bishop,
Bozeman, Montana
David Burger,
Boulder, Colorado
Garry Porter
Olalla, Washington
Ryland Gardner
Edwards, Colorado
Doug Frost
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Our objective:

22,494 feet
6857 meters

First Ascent:

March 13, 1961
Barry Bishop
Wally Ramanes
Mike Gill
Mike Ward