Climbers missing after avalanche hits Himlung Base Camp—sixteen missing.
Climbers missing after avalanche hits Himlung Base Camp—fourteen people are missing. Himlung Himal (7,126 m), in Manang district, requires an additional permit for helicopter flights, adding to the difficulties of reaching the mountain.
Himlung has been heavily marketed since Nepal floated the idea of requiring a 7,000-meter climb in Nepal before applying for an Everest permit. The rule is going through Nepal’s governmental approval process but is not in place as of September 2026, and probably will not be in time for the Everest 2027 Spring season. #manaslu2026
Manaslu Over for Most—Finally!
It’s over on Manaslu. Even the rope-fixers are bailing as the typhoon is about to make landfall, bringing, perhaps, feet of snow to the higher elevations across the Himalaya. The Nepali weather experts are warning of potential flooding in Kathmandu and other areas. #manaslu2026
Manaslu Avalanche and Potential Heavy Snow at Month End? – Updated
With the recent heavy snows, it was inevitable that the upper slopes of Manaslu would see some avalanche activity. If that wasn’t enough, the signs of an impending typhoon hitting the area are increasing. It’s time for every climber and team to gather data and make responsible decisions. #manaslu2026
Manaslu Dominates Autumn Himalaya Season and One Death
With China closing Tibet to mountaineering this autumn and recent floods making travel to many areas in Nepal difficult, operators focused on Manaslu, and climbers came.
Nepali authorities have issued a record 451 climbing permits to foreign climbers on Manaslu (8,163 meters/26,781 feet), with a 1:1.5 member-to-support ratio, which could put 1,128 climbers on the mountain. Nepal received over $1.35 million in royalties. Sadly, there has been one death. #manaslu2026
Himalaya Autumn Season Begins
As summer ends, the Autumn Himalayan climbing season begins. Manaslu is the favorite climb, given that China has inexplicably closed Tibet to climbing. We can expect record summits on Manaslu this season, despite the catastrophic floods in Nepal; climbers are still climbing. Many teams switched from trekking to using a helicopter to reach base camps, but road closures and bridges out after the flood made that difficult. #manaslu2026
Tragic Tibet-Nepal Flood Update
On August 26, 2026, a catastrophic flood struck the Nepal–Tibet border, taking 1,273 lives, with an estimated 4,750 people still missing. This post explains what likely happened, the current casualty totals, the rescue operations underway, and other key details.
The situation is still developing, so consider this a snapshot, not a definitive post. #nepal2026flood
Everest just became more expensive and unattractive to some
On September 1, 2025, several new rules were enacted for mountaineering in Nepal. The most significant change was increased permit fees for Nepal’s most popular peaks. The rest of the rules seem like window dressing or distractions designed to mitigate any negative press around the price increase. The Nepal Ministry of Tourism has effectively used this strategy for years.
One proposed rule being marketed by Nepal guides and promoted throughout the press, Nepal and worldwide, is that all Everest permit applicants must have climbed a 7000-meter peak in Nepal. This rule has NOT yet been approved. You can follow its current status at this link, which is listed as “Discussion in Committee” as of September 3, 2025.
Everest 2025: Nepal New Rules- Some Good, Some Not
In an admirable effort to reduce deaths and save lives on Everest, the Nepal government has implemented two additional rules for the upcoming 2025 Spring season. One is a great idea, but the other is not so great. However, the efforts still lag the magnitude of the problems.
Instead of enacting rules to minimize missing climbers and deaths, Nepal adds regulations to aid in body recovery. This is analogous to having a busy traffic intersection where countless crashes occur. The city decided the best action would be to pre-place ambulances and tow trucks instead of enhancing traffic signals.
Remember that 23 of the 26 Everest deaths in 2023 and 2024 were climbing, with companies charging less than the median price. Four of the 26 deaths were classified as “missing” by the Himalayan Database. All were between 8334 and 8848 meters.
Why do I continue to write about this? Please continue reading to see the impact on one family whose grief could have been slightly reduced through more transparent communications and legitimate regulations. #everest2025
How Many 8000-meter Mountains are There?
Nepal continues to try to expand the number of 8000-meter mountains from 8 to 14, but it’s not their decision. It will take approval from the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) to become official; even then, I doubt it will generate a sea change in the 8000er world.