Lhotse
1974
November 1
A. Heinrich and J. Stryczyński set up CII (6400 m) in Western Cwm.
They climbed and set up tents in hurricane winds.
November 4
J. Surdel discovers unusual tracks near the base, the expedition assumes they were left by the legendary Yeti.
November 7
A. Heinrich, J. Stryczyński and P. Jasiński set up the third camp (CIII 7100 m) on Lhotse's wall. Equipment and food is transported from the base camp to camps in Western Cwm.
November 14
Two Sherpas fall into a crevasse while traversing the Icefall, A. Heinrich, R. Szafirski and J. Strzyczyński save their lives. A few consecutive days with bad weather make it impossible to reach CIII - temperature falls and wind is getting stronger.
It was so damned windy that they decided to go down. Andrzej, come here! Alright, go down boys!
November 17
The destroyed CII is moved to a place with
more protection from the wind.
November 21-24
Recreating the route through Icefall, which was damaged by falling seracs; equipment is moved to higher camps.
November 29 -
December 4
Everyone stays in the base, the weather makes it impossible to go out.
December 7
Rebuilding the completely damaged CI. A. Zawada and Z. Heinrich set out from the base to CII. The next day, the leader announces attack on Lhotse. The trio's attempts fail.
December 11
J. Rusiecki, W. Kurtyka and J. Stryczyński after a night with oxygen set up CIV (7800 m).
December 12
A. Zawada and A. Heinrich try to reach CIV and attack the summit, but they're stopped by harsh weather - hurricane winds. They turn back to CIII.
December 15
T. Piotrowski, as well as film operators J. Surdel and S. Latałło join the trio in CIII. They wait out the bad weather and prepare for the attack.
We will go to camp III, take as much as we can. Expecially oxygen.
December 17
During the descent from CIII, in awful weather conditions, S. Latałło dies on a fixed rope just below CIII.
December 18
In the evening A. Zawada organises a meeting and makes the decision to continue the expedition.
December 22
After bad weather has passed, the leader, Z. Heinrich, B. Jankowski, P. Jasiński and M. Kowalczyk set out to CII to bury S. Latałło. The next day, his body, wrapped in tent cloth is buried in a crevasse in Lhotse's wall. Afterwards A. Zawada and A. Heinrich set out to CIII and plan to attack the summit.
December 24
A. Zawada and A. Heinrich set out from CIII and reach CIV.
December 25
A. Zawada and A. Heinrich start their summit attack at 11 am, at 2:30 pm the are at 8250 m, but turn back because of worsening weather. They descend to CIII, where W. Kurtyka and J. Rusiecki wait for them.
There's a 25 m high nickpoint. We don't have any hooks, only line. Andrzej's coming, we'll discuss it with him.
- That would be funny, if 25m nickpoint stopped entire action.
December 29
Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects A. Zawada's request to extend the expedition till the end of January 1975.
December 30
A. Zawada chooses W. Kurtyka and J. Rusiecki for the last attack on the summit. Unfortunately, their attempt fails.
December 31 -
January 1, 1975
The end of the expedition; dismantling the base.
January 17
A. Zawada and part of the expedition return to Poland
