KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 7
Rescuers have recovered two bodies from Shishapangma, the 14th highest mountain in the world after two consecutive avalanches occurred at the main climbing route just a few hundred metres below the summit point today.
According to sources from the base camp, rescuers have recovered the bodies of two climbers - American climber Anna Gutu and her guide Mingmar Sherpa from the avalanche site, while another American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo, and her guide Tenjen (Lama) Sherpa are still reported missing.
Eyewitnesses said that at least two avalanches hit the climbing route when the two American climbers along with their guides reached above 7,800m. An avalanche first struck Gutu and Mingmar at around 11:00am before another avalanche struck at 1:00pm just 80 metres below the summit hitting Rzucidlo, Tenjen and Kami Rita Sherpa, who were making the summit push through a slightly different route.
The two American climbers - Gutu and Rzucidlo - were in a tough race to be the first American woman to scale all 14 peaks. The two had already completed their 13th eight thousander just days ago after summiting Mt Cho Oyu. Rzucidlo was with Tenjen, while Gutu was being guided by Mingmar.
Tenjen is the record-holding Sherpa climber, who along with Kristin Harila scaled all 14 peaks in 92 days on July 27.
Kami Rita and Karma Gyalzen Sherpa, among others, were also reportedly injured in the incident, according to sources.
Meanwhile, Pakistani climbers Sirbaz Khan and Naila Kiani called off their summit push and headed down to safety after conditions near the summit were deemed unsafe.
A team led by Mingma G from Imagine Nepal Treks and other climbers are carrying out a search and rescue mission. A number of expedition teams from Nepal have headed for the mountain after China opened its border for the first time since the pandemic.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 8, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
