American Woman Mountaineer Killed in Avalanche During Descent of Mount Makalu

"Johannesen and her climbing partner, David Ashley, with whom she operated the U.S.-based outfitter Dash Adventures, had successfully reached the 8,485-meter summit at 10:30 a.m. on May 9. The pair was accompanied by Tawa Sherpa and Phurba Sonam Sherpa. After spending the night at a high camp, the team resumed their descent on Sunday morning when the avalanche struck a section of the route fixed with several hundred meters of rope."

"Shelley Johannesen, 59, was killed on Sunday morning when a massive slide struck her team at approximately 7,000 meters as they were descending from the summit. According to reports from Explorer's Web and the Tourism Times, the incident occurred just below Camp 3 on the mountain's traditional route."

"Eyewitnesses and climbers stationed at Camp 2 launched an immediate rescue effort upon witnessing the slide. Rescuers were able to extract Phurba Sonam Sherpa from the debris, but Johannesen could not be saved. David Ashley and Tawa Sherpa, both of whom sustained injuries in the accident, were later successfully evacuated from the mountain via helicopter and airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu for medical treatment."

"The tragedy marks the second fatality on Makalu this spring season. Earlier this month, 38-year-old Czech climber David Roubinek died of altitude sickness during an attempt on Makalu II. While other expeditions continue their efforts on the mountain, with some teams moving toward Everest and Lhotse to capitalize on their current acclimatization, the loss of Johannesen has cast a somber light on the inherent dangers of the world's highest peaks."

Shelley Johannesen, 59, died after a high-altitude avalanche struck her team on Makalu during descent. The slide occurred around 7,000 meters just below Camp 3 on the mountain’s traditional route, where the descent path was fixed with several hundred meters of rope. Johannesen and her partner David Ashley reached the 8,485-meter summit at 10:30 a.m. on May 9 and spent the night at a high camp before descending. Tawa Sherpa and Phurba Sonam Sherpa were also on the team. Rescuers extracted Phurba Sonam Sherpa from the debris, but Johannesen could not be saved. Ashley and Tawa Sherpa were injured and later evacuated by helicopter to Kathmandu for treatment. The death was the second fatality on Makalu this spring season.

Read at SnowBrains