The expedition left the Pokhara airfield with a support team of four Sherpas, 54 porters and a liaison officer on September 9.

They reached the valley containing the ablation zone of the South Annapurna Glacier on September 15 where they established base camp.

It took several days to find a suitable route through avalanche terrain to set up Camp III at 5,600 m (18,370 ft).

Steep ice and snow required the fixing of ropes before Camp IV was set up at 6,200 m (20,340 ft) on October 6 under an overhanging ice-wall.

The next day the first assault team of three members reached the summit of the central peak in mid afternoon.