Climbers Die in Tragic Accident on Annapurna

The 2015 spring climbing season in Nepal is just getting started and already two climbers have died.

Finnish climber, Samuli Mansikka, and his local guide, Pemba Sherpa, died Wednesday while descending from the summit of Mount Annapurna.

Attempts were being made to bring the bodies of Mansikka, 36, and Sherpa, 35, back to the base camp from the 7,000-metre point where they were found.

The two climbers reached the 8,091-metre summit on Tuesday and were descending on Wednesday when they died. Exact details of the accident are unknown, but friends of Mansikka wrote on social media that the climbers slipped and fell some distance.

At camp 4 (7000m) on Annapurna North-face! Spectacular! Last night was terrible with just as much snow inside the tent as outside!

— Samuli Mansikka (@Samuli_Mansikka) March 23, 2015

Their team members were assisted by a helicopter in trying to bring down the bodies.

Pemba was from Sankhuwasava, Nepal. Mansikka had climbed Kangchenjunga and K2 in 2014, Makalu in 2013, Dhaulagiri in 2011, Gasherbrum 2 in 2010, Everest and Manaslu in 2009, Lhotse in 2008, Cho Oyu in 2008 in 2006, and Annapurna 1 in 2015.

Annapurna is the world’s 10th highest mountain and among the most dangerous to climb.

The end of March is the start of expedition season in Nepal. It’s when climbers from all around the world arrive in Kathmandu.

On March 13, 13 climbers summited Annapurna. Seven clients of Dreamers Destination and six Sherpa guides reached the summit at around 2:45 p.m. local time. Conditions were reported good, but avalanches were prevalent as is the case on Annapurna.

It is the most deadly of the 14 mountains above 8000 metres with 191 summits and 67 deaths or 35 per cent.

Source: Explorerers Web