Sherpa Chhewang Nima, unsuccessful search on Baruntse abandoned

The hopes for finding Sherpa Chhewang Nima alive have practically vanished after the Nepalese Sherpa was hit by an avalanche at 16.00 on Saturday while fixing ropes beneath the summit on the north face of Baruntse for an international commercial expedition. According to the first details it seems as if a snow slab fell from the summit crest and involved only the unfortunate

A rescue bid was activated immediately but it is feared that the 43 year old alpinist was dragged down the north-east face. A helicopter sent to help in the rescue operation was forced to return due to poor weather. It also seems as if a helicopter managed to take off and fly up to 6700m in high winds and locate five large avalanches.

Jiban Ghimire, director of Sherpa Shangri-La Treks where Nima Sherpa was employed, told the BBC that the search "has been called off because there is no way to find his body".

Chhewang Nima Sherpa was one of Himalayan veterans, with 19 ascents of Everest to his name. He leaves behind two daughters.


Baruntse 7129m is located in front of the South Face of Lhotse (8516m) and forms part of the mountain chain that separates Everest 8850m from Makalu 8463m. The North Ridge was climbed by a French expedition in 1980, while all other ascents have been carried out via the opposite SE Ridge. Baruntse is well-known to all who have entered the upper Hongo basin as it spectacularly dominates the valley head and the Amphu Labsta pass. The first ascent was carried out by climbers from New Zealand, including Edmund Hillary, in 1954, along the East Face and SE Ridge.