An American climber has died in an avalanche on Mount Makalu, officials said on Tuesday, as fatalities rise early in Nepal’s busy spring climbing season.
Image: Explorersweb
Shelley Johannesen, 53, was killed on Monday while descending from the summit of the world’s fifth-highest peak, expedition organisers said, marking the latest death of the season.
According to expedition officials, Johannesen had successfully reached the 8,485-metre summit before being struck by an avalanche at around 7,200 metres during her descent.
“She was hit by an avalanche just below Camp 3,” said Nabin Trital, managing director of Expedition Himalaya.
Johannesen, co-founder of US-based outfitter Dash Adventures, was climbing with a three-member team that included her partner David Ashley and two Nepali guides. Ashley said he was “heartbroken” by her death, describing her as someone who “lived her life with no limits.”
Her body was flown to a Kathmandu hospital on Monday.
So far this season, at least four climbers — including Johannesen, Czech climber David Roubinek, and three Nepali guides — have died in the Himalayas.
Makalu, a steep, pyramid-shaped mountain southeast of Everest, is known for its technical difficulty, extreme weather, and remote location.
Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks, sees hundreds of climbers each year during its spring and autumn seasons. Authorities have issued more than 1,000 permits this season, including 72 for Makalu and a record 492 for Everest.
