Avalanches have struck the slopes of the Tibetan mountain Shishapangma as more than 50 climbers were making a push for the summit, killing an American and Nepali mountaineer, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Shishapangma, at just over 8,000 metres (26,247ft), is the world’s 14th-tallest peak. It is widely regarded as one of the least difficult mountains of that height, known among climbers as the “eight-thousanders”.
Two avalanches hit its slopes at elevations of 7,600 metres and 8,000 metres on Saturday, killing the American climber Anna Gutu and her Nepali guide Mingmar Sherpa, Xinhua reported on Sunday.
Another US climber, Gina Marie Rzucidlo, and her Nepali guide, Tenjen Sherpa, were missing, Xinhua said.
Tenjen Sherpa was the guide for the Norwegian Kristin Harila when they climbed K2 in Pakistan in July to become the world’s fastest climbers to scale all of the 14 peaks over 8,000 metres. He wanted to become the youngest climber to scale all 14 peaks twice.
A total of 52 climbers, including from the US, Britain, Romania, Albania, Italy, Japan and Pakistan, were pushing for the summit when the avalanches hit, Xinhua said.
Credit: theguardian.com
