The Jannu Disaster

During the Fall Himalayan climbing season of 1987, a team of elite Dutch mountaineers would brave Jannu's dangerous slopes on an expedition to reach its summit. This is the story of that fateful climb.
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[@chrisboyd6736]

PSA: Do not attempt to climb anything with a section called the Wall of Shadows.

[@AlternativeAdventureAthlete]

LOL! can you imagine, looking at some hand sketched topo that has a section labeled " The Wall of Shadows"

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Is that in any way related to the advice, "If you hear a mountain's name translated to mean 'Mt. Don't Go There' maybe don't go."??? ;o)

[@daBears06]

Ok I will

[@tryingtotryistrying]

you had me at wall

[@daBears06]

@@tryingtotryistryingstop being a cholo

[@billsmith5166]

I've watched hours and hours of mountain climbing videos and I've never seen anything on Jannu. Thanks for the video!

[@daniellee5147]

There is no way I could sleep knowing all that ice was hanging above me.

[@toscadonna]

Yeah, I’d be absolutely terrified. But I think they’re just so tired after climbing that sleep probably comes easy despite the circumstances.

[@michaelw6277]

If there’s a silver lining it’d be that if the ice came down you’d probably be dead faster than your brain could register any pain.

[@iwaswrongabouteveryhthing]

you would be so tired you'd pass out

[@mtmadigan82]

You'd be surprised. Big wall sleeping on a hanging cot, ice seracs, or crevasses, land slides. You can do everything right and still get destroyed. What it comes down to is mitigating risk, and being comfortable with that calculated danger. This is overcome with training and proper equipment. When you have confidence in those, it makes technical rock and ice climbing not easy, but not as daunting.

[@melindahall5062]

If you’re going to be up there you’d better have made peace within you. SOs and children must no longer matter. Period.

[@notkelvin]

My favourite of the wilderness tragedies channels - no clickbait thumbnails, no unnecessary dramatization, no sensationalist speculation, just interesting cases and sticks to the cold hard facts!

[@Carcajou72]

You're missing out, man.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

He really is the best and so underated. Incredible no nosense narration. Not being some soy character over the top. The back ground music is absolutely perfect. I love Morbid Midnights videos so much. I hike alot and spend many many nights out in the back country. These videos make me realise that i never wanna take it further, im happy doing what i do. Ill brave grizzlies over avanlanches any day

[@sarahwagland1559]

Never has my bed felt so good as when I watch these videos 😊

[@Marvin-dg8vj]

I get an overwhelming urge not to climb mountains or risk my life in this way

[@kamakaziozzie3038]

Especially same time my hot woman making like a pretzel with me

[@nigelhorrocks7592]

Thankyou . I didn"t expect to see this but it has bought back great memories of Ger , who I knew both in Nepal and Holland . He was one of the most fun people I met during that time and the most gifted climber that grew up below sea level ever - his home was on reclaimed land and I believe he built a climbing training area in its attic . To climb Jannu is exceptional and a great career laid ahead of him , but to those who knew him his quality was already apparent , and he knew that with great beauty comes great risk . I will remember the good times but for now ,tears fall ,36 years later ,

[@tomashertz1155]

I think it adds well to your repertoire to discuss different peaks and mountain ranges around the world, and not always about the 8000+. Listening to different routes and less well-known mountains keeps the interest high.

[@cail171]

I like that idea. I'd watch for sure

[@godizself1]

And curious anxiety high.

[@user-or4hs7xq9u]

I agree, sub 8,000m mountains are interesting

[@debbieellett9093]

I am addicted to this channel. I always have loved mountains, although I never got to experience climbing them. Much respect for all who do and to those who died doing what they loved.

[@MakeCriminalsIllegalAgain]

Please don't count yourself out! You still have time to die on a mountain, believe me.

[@data5amurai]

There are some great mountain climbing channels out there with great videography. I do enjoy this channel for the historical tragedies.

[@kamakaziozzie3038]

Even though this channel makes it appear otherwise, it is very possible (and many do it) to climb a mountain without perishing. Live your dream!

[@pekororo]

Always excited for a new Morbid Midnight video

[@johnreilly8672]

Enjoy tragedy do ya' !

[@sarahwagland1559]

​@@johnreilly8672Who doesn't?

[@Nathanm7977]

Thank you for always presenting this events with respect for both the facts and the victims.

[@ironfistarrival]

You Very Welcome .

[@Wonderkid44]

@@ironfistarrivalno he isnt

[@StAlphonsusHasAPosse]

I've read more than a few books on Himalayan peaks and wondered why I never heard of this mountain. Now I know. Also, thanks for putting height in feet for us metrical challenged Americans.✌️👍✌️

[@annnee6818]

At least you're using metric for your beloved guns

[@StAlphonsusHasAPosse]

@annnee6818 People who can't defend themselves have to limit themselves to s.t.u.p.i.d comments

[@topfloorstudio2684]

​@annnee6818 Yep. Great to live in a free country! I have 2 AR15s & all kinds of combat pistols.....why?..... BECAUSE I CAN!!!

[@StAlphonsusHasAPosse]

@@topfloorstudio2684 👍

[@freeradical77]

@@annnee6818 You should get out and shoot some targets. You'll enjoy it, it's quite addictive.

[@js35701]

The wall of Shadows, that has to be the coolest name. Like a hard level in a video game. I see why the ancients referred to mountains as gods. Jannu as a very imposing shape

[@lindalaw8368]

Why I am interested in climbing is a complete mystery! I am afraid of heights, ice, falling, extreme cold, and failing equipment!❤😂

[@janudog]

I named my dog Janu after hiking to Khanchanchunga base camp 35 years ago , she was a great dog and lived for 14 years.

[@atheistsince1210]

Multiple overnight stays at 20k plus feet with no O2 no heat source this mountain is completely insane it won’t be summited again anytime soon damn !!!!

[@Ferdrew-rp5ey]

😮😧😯💀☠️😁

[@ankitacharya975]

this mountain being situated at remotest part of nepal most mountaineers prefer not to attempt it due to its technicality and irrelevance due to kanchenjunga being near.most sherpa guides aren’t even willing to guide people due to its remoteness and religious beliefs.jannu is the game given by westerners it’s original name is Kumbhakarna which is a demon who sleeps alots and gets very angry upon waking him up

[@xsremar]

Love how all these near impossible tasks were all done by some badass in the 60s with none of the technology that exists today.

[@irishpsalteri]

I would love to see more graphics showing routes and camps.

[@GTFBITK]

I will agree.

[@raybzht]

#mewtwo

[@lucassmith1886]

Watch Archie's archive. He shows specific routes and features

[@Nefville]

You do such a good job with these videos. I've been subscribed for quite a while now and I'm always looking forward to the next one. Its not over-the-top or clickbaity, its relevant, well researched, well-explained and respectful to those in the stories. Each one has a lesson to be learned. I'm a big hiker, and those lessons aren't lost on me. Thanks.

[@POLARTTYRTM]

That's one mean-looking mountain... Christ, why would anyone climb that, just like Cerro Torre.

[@TenShine1productions]

Because it's there

[@MonTube2006]

Up and... up

[@doclewis8927]

Wow...the climber that dragged their bodies did some serious work by himself. Rest in peace, gentlemen.

[@thesquatchdoctor3356]

Or the Sherpas who climbed with him. Mountaineering expeditions don't set their own ropes usually

[@thomasgilmore7988]

It seems like there are more dangerous mountains under eight thousand meters than the eight thousanders

[@domesticterrorist483]

Very sad ending. I wondered about the site of camp two when the video showed it right under the ice fall. The lads would have been better off bivvying on the plateux given the time of day after being warmed by the sun all day an ice fall was highly likely. RIP.

[@Ferdrew-rp5ey]

Great point dd ! THX !

[@counterfit5]

Yeah, one would think putting camp below an icefall would be something you *don't* want to do

[@jordanalandry1866]

That’s actually totally opposite of what you would want to do because an ice fall is actually much more dangerous during the day and after sunset after it has been warmed, that’s when it stabilizes that’s when it’s been melted. Do you know what happens to snow and ice in the sun, right? That’s why climber always cross ice Falls ideally early early in the morning a.k.a. the middle of the night because the lack of sun and subzero temperatures for an extended period mean that the ice is going to be a lot more stable and the likelihood of trouble is going to be a lot less, the same would be true with seracs and other high pitch snow covered peaks daytime and sunlight are a recipe for disaster. you want to stay the fuck away from them in general under those conditions

[@domesticterrorist483]

@@jordanalandry1866 I think you misunderstood what I meant. I said a bivvie ABOVE the ice fall would have been a possible better option. THen they could have descended before dawn when it is safest, as you point out.

[@akdragosani]

Morbid Midnight Epic Channel 🙌🏻

[@SilverLady52]

When you were describing camping out on the exposed face and all the other hazards, I'm truly in my head going, "HOW is this fun?? Why do people do this again??" I don't think I will ever understand this extreme kind of mountain climbing.

[@nikcezar2445]

pain triumph then death this is how a lot of storys end but i think is still better that pain then death

[@mauricedavis2160]

Another fascinating yet tragic episode Morbid Midnight, thank you Sir!!!🙏😢🏔️❣️

[@principecaprincipeca2243]

Such a beautiful mountain 😮

[@mountfairweather]

Best to admire from a far distance 🥶

[@Pakistan-Icecream]

I have no idea how otherwise intelligent people can venture to dangerous mountain peaks without there being a benefit to themselves or the world.

[@pieterveenders9793]

For people who hate the fast paced rat race we live in the West, the pure tranquality and serenity of the mountains can be just the thing we need to cope with the normal 9-5 life back home. And on top of that there's also the measuring yourself with nature's biggest landmarks, with each other, exploring new and unclimbed mountains and routes, the thrill of danger, and so on.

[@synthemagician4686]

@@pieterveenders9793 I mean, I get what you're saying... but it still makes no sense to me. I mean I get the sense of accomplishment, I "climbed" a WAY smaller deal a while back, and while it was cool to say I did and I was kinda proud after the fact, it was not even close to worth it for the risk. The risk it to biscuit ratio just doesn't compute in my brain. Props to those who do it though, no disrespect, they are built different than me for sure.

[@danielul05]

They are just dumb

[@rwirtz77]

driving in your car is death waiting to happen, people are driving right now blasting music, drunk, high. Not to mention your going to die anyway. This mountain is scary from what i can see. Doubt many will be signing up for a piece of that.

[@solarnaut]

We all "just appear" on this scrabble board of life with indecipherable game rules and a timer that goes dark after a few flickers around the sun. Finding experiences that can light up your circuits and leave them glowing is apt to lead you chasing dragons.

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

This looks an absolute horror to climb

[@overthebars6983]

My favourite KZbin channel

[@frisk151]

I've been addicted to racing (extreme road racing - when I was younger), pro watercraft racing where the water is as hard as concrete, skydived, base jumped and wingsuited, kinda proxy at times... Full technical wreck and cave diver... Lots of risky hobbies that I"m phasing out with agre... One thing I have NO interest in is extreme mountain climbing... It holds no interest to me... Yes, I collect summiting 14'ers here in the USA, but I would rather fight russians as a merc for Ukraine before these death marches. No doubt I could roll the dice, and with a lot of training, conditioning, and financing I think I'd make it and live (possibly) to do other normal crazy sh!t another day... There is a difference in all of the extreme things I have done.. You can't make any of them safe, but when it comes to serious underwater cave exploration, wreck diving really deep, where it'll be a few hours before you can safely off-gas and crack the surface again.. Well, generally there is a ton of math and training in the planning and execution of the dive. However, these mountains... You can do everything RIGHT and mother nature will cut you down like a bug with icing on it's wings. I'm NOT dogging on these climbers... K2, Everest, etc etc.. I think the professional (not paid, or paid, but they truly know what they are doing as apposed to tourist climbers) are exceptional, and I do follow a lot of channels covering things.. My heart truly hurts for those who reach for the top, yet then become a unliving body-memorial on places like Everest.. Mad respect to the real climbers.. I have NO respect for tourist climbers, especially when Sherpas and others die trying to save their rich people ambitions...

[@bujfvjg7222]

Rinehold Messner alpine style, is where it's at!

[@dimebagdave77]

Very cool, manythnx 🤘

[@KansistentSciTech]

That Russian summit from 2004 is available on YT

[@ImmortalTreknique]

For the algorithm 👊

[@greenman6141]

Well, they should really be commended for NOT killing Sherpas, who are usually the unnamed dead in these tales.

[@counterfit5]

MM usually does a good job naming sherpas that lose their lives

[@greenman6141]

@@counterfit5 That's good. And, horribly, surprisingly unusual. The attitude towards Sherpas in the comments beneath most mountaineering videos on KZbin is, well, almost aggressively dismissive or outright hate filled. Most such videos go into great great details about the wealthy and/or western climbers. Talk about their childhoods, their parents, sibling, spouses, children. Talk about their fantastic characters and how everyone loves them. Then the death story is related, Sometimes it is revealed just how many Sherpas were killed in the attempts to get the Hero of this story back. But often they merit no mention at all. Nevermind anything as extraneous as their names. I found this so bizarre & heartless, that I began mentioning it. I said that I found it strange that there were so many people who were willing to risk the lives of OTHER people for THEIR OWN enjoyment or aspiration. What I received back from other commenters was astonishing. Zero comments saying anything about how this situation was bad. But hundreds of comments saying things such as "they were lucky to be able to get the job' "their families have no right to whine" "they know the risks" "people like them always complain when the work gets hard". Eventually I realized that the attitude manifested in the comments is the reason this situation has come about & has been allowed to continue. They viewed the Sherpas as not even just unimportant, but with actual distain, and regarded them as deeply inferior...as though they subscribe to the worst of (completely debunked) social Darwinism. They displayed the same sort of contempt I hear people aiming at the Homeless or migrant workers, or refugees from famine & war. As regards mountaineering: What is the point of "achieving a goal" or "showing the triumph of your will" if your "achievement" was bought with the corpses of others & you have emptied your soul of any humanity.

[@hotrock388]

Good documentary, however it would have been more complete to name the other men in the photo. I believe that they contributed in no small part to the other men attempting the summit.

[@letzte_maahsname]

Definitely! Although I do believe he would have included their names if they were known. Sources can be lacking, which might be the case here.

[@mikeferrara7865]

That is a scary looking mountain!

[@hardasnails11b]

How sad they came so close to victory only to perish and remain on the mountain in their graves. Rest in peace.

[@christinegerard4974]

Thank you for this video .What a terrible challenge ! What a wall ! …RIP dear mountaineers.

[@Parlimant_Strifey]

This is exactly why climbers that only climb the highest peaks are not big deals at all. They don't want to face the real challenges, they only want to virtue signal how they are somehow special for doing all the 7 now normy mountains. Which have already been achieved by others long before them. Real climbers would go against some real challenges and care not for those 7 peaks, yet they seem to only care about being number something something on some long long lists instead.

[@daniellee5147]

Yeah like that picture of the endless line at the top of Everest. So impressed!!

[@attention_shopping]

certainly there's a difference in climbers, everyone watching these mountaineering videos is aware but no need to be so elitist about 'real' climbers

[@stephenmorris3696]

Well, I am a bit like that to be honest.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@attention_shopping At some level I can agree with you, BUT it's gotten so bad on Everest that otherwise decent and sensible people are being exploited and put directly into harm's way for morons with more money than sense. A LOT of easily preventable deaths are happening with no reasonable excuse in any of it. I swear, if I was to win the lottery tomorrow, my first project would be to install a g** d*** escalator on Everest just to shut the wannabes up! Normally, I don't have a problem with someone trying to do whatever they want... BUT that comes with a couple caveats. 1 Don't expect me to waste my time trying to rescue you from yourself. 2 ONLY risk your own neck. It should be fine and cool for me to risk my life, but it's not remotely close to ethical for me to even put you in any fear for yours. ;o)

[@Just.A.T-Rex]

K2 is not a normy mountain.

[@sujaymadhok5700]

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@cherubcherub1698]

60m above camp didn't the rest of the team hear the ice so close?

[@Just.A.T-Rex]

No. Snow acts as a sound dampener plus surely they had hats/beanies things over their ears to keep warm, possibly sleeping, and probably some wind

[@warmobile4429]

Underrated channel

[@noidreculse8906]

Not hardly a “disaster” by mountaineering’s standards, but well produced 👍🏻

[@gbeagle417]

Hell yeah. I love your moutain ones

[@sara505sings]

My question is always, what do the mothers of these insane people think, and and do they sleep at night?

[@The_Sloth_Trekker]

The thumbnail is out of this world.... Makes you feel you're in space

[@daluxe2000]

Great voice sound. very mono depressive voice tone expressing the complete absent of any use, need, heroic act, sensible action other then bringing the greatest danger for life voluntarily at your and your love ones doorstep.

[@jeremykinsey7877]

By today's standard, amazing the first summit 1929

[@tonyarichards5430]

I treasure my fear of heights.

[@rollotomassi8251]

Exellent video sir. And thank you for using metric system 😊

[@SharksSJ408]

Wall of Shadows sounds like something from Lord of the Rings

[@aurorincorporated]

Jannu is a nickname for Janelin in my country. Worst things are always named after women... except this time it's happenstance. Phew?

[@RTFLDGR]

flatlander here. I live on the high desert of Kansas @ 1100 feet above sea level. Just as I climb Wolf Pass out of Walsenberg, Colorado, I get altitude sickness. I must immediately retreat back down into more oxygen. :-/ I live in the bottom of a fragile sea of gases, gasping for one precious element. O2 is my friend. Honors to the anearobics.

[@warmobile4429]

Very good video

[@FiveGunsWest]

Aleister Crowley's expedition to K2 ended in disaster for some of the team.

[@jeremycampbell1686]

Nice

[@janudog]

It's a very imposing mountain when you hike past , it reminds me of a throne for the gods.

[@Tubesmaney]

If I died in some fantastically adventurous way, it wouldn't be a bad thing to have my story told on Morbid Midnight!

[@katemaloney4296]

People have yeased me for having a fear of heights, but I am quick to correct them that its called "a healthy respect for things taller than I am."

[@alberta1st]

Watching after midnight very morbid...

[@Ferdrew-rp5ey]

DAMN !! How many more stories are we going to withess... ☠️💀💀 We know the reward is great up there; but, my LIFE is > important thant conquering a peak !! ☝️☝️

[@LionZebra]

You Fuk with fire, you get burned You Fuk with icy mountain, you get crushed & frozen

[@roddickson427]

New Zealand mountaineers climbed the Wall of Shadows in 2975

[@gregorysleeth1792]

Beautiful

[@thebluehotel426]

Gorgeous peak.

[@triggerfish999]

Interesting how the 'team' are named…except the local guides remain anonymous

[@knr1]

Hey bro, great video. I've subscribed to ur channel. Also, a little feedback: I get the low-tune voice to set up a proper ambience for the kind of topics that u bring, but PLEASE make some investment in ur audio capturing... ur voice is not only low, but also barely understandable sometimes. Good work

[@AngelGabrielMusic]

I’m always nervous when you start talking about people who previously climbed the mountain. Which one will it be?!?

[@malcolmabram2957]

I have done a fair amount f mountaineering in the past (Austria and New Zealand). Will give Jannu a miss I think. It looks horrible.

[@billpugh58]

I might avoid a mountain with that topographical feature😂

[@bagel3703]

love the new upload, but Y terrible audio?

[@MorbidMidnight]

It's still processing the HD as of writing this, so check back in a few minutes?

[@goddammitalana]

❤❤❤

[@keyboarddancers7751]

What happens to all those thousands of climbers' faeces at those extreme altitudes?

[@the_phaistos_disk_solution]

Just right.

[@helloxyz]

coz the Dutch are famous for their mountains . . .

[@jennamatkowski2367]

sweet!

[@user-eg1sw2dz7g]

Circumnavigate-to proceed around, or bypass something, or to sail around. Try summitary expedition or something else like treacherous mountain pathfinding, just don't use the incorrect word or KZbin comments will crucify ya. Good luck.

[@seattlejayde]

I wonder if they used oxygen?

[@mpreiss7780]

Pssst..Tomo soloed the North face in 20 hrs 😏 Rest in peace to the lost warriors

[@brandtbolding8962]

Amazing how much time/thought was spent producing this and yet you have no idea how important letting the viewer know...WHAT THE TEMPERATURES WERE!#!$%!!!

[@counterfit5]

Cold af

[@danieloblinger1199]

Why is a bivouac called a bevy?

[@grmpEqweer]

"Bivvy".

[@Whistlen_Dixie]

BALLEN… Mr. that is.

[@juri_xiii9977]

I'd rather have my body in a crevasse on a Sacred Mountain than on a normal graveyard.. Just sayin'..

[@MsAdventure531]

Namasté

[@rileyh4169]

No sound?

[@rileyh4169]

I can't hear audio on this video but can on others I click

[@MorbidMidnight]

You just got here a little too early I think! It occasionally does that while it's still processing HD. Check back in 30ish minutes and it should work just fine for you!

[@ceciliapreziose3783]

what happened to sipping an umbrella drink poolside in the Caribbean as a thrill?

[@roddickson427]

1975

[@user-sf9pq5ox7w]

doesn't seem worth the danger to me.

[@vahgeuvje10]

Those Russians are definitely built different. Very impressive

[@Vanessa-bc7fs]

I'm 4 minutes in and everything about climbing this mountain sounds absolutely......awful Then again, climbing any mountain doesnt sound very appealing to me, especially after listening to these videos.

[@ivorybilled8983]

That mountain looks like death.

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

My hobby is driving small chips of wood under my toe nails with a small ball peen hammer...

[@blipco5]

3:45 Can you see its eyes looking at you?😮

[@Carcajou72]

Terray's first name is pronounced LION (as in the animal) EL. Otherwise good video.

[@johndef5075]

Not in France it aint.

[@Carcajou72]

Everywhere else it is.@@johndef5075

[@Carcajou72]

harmi @@johndef5075

[@Carcajou72]

C'est dommage. @@johndef5075

[@mattjohnson1545]

You cover some great topics but I find the speed you talk unbearable unless I play with the speed settings

[@rainernolywaika4224]

Why risking your life or pay ten thousands in fees and permits for this nonsense is mind boggling to me

[@UmarIbnAlKhattab1]

😆

[@daluxe2000]

🤔

[@Sushi2735]

Please make your voice more morbid and droll! I’ll send money then!

[@FoxyCAMTV]

Why didn't you acknowledge the sherpas?

[@MorbidMidnight]

The other men in the expedition team photo are listed as "cooks" and apparently didn't do any climbing themselves.