Seven Deaths on Nepal’s Yalung Ri
The Kathmandu Post cited Deputy Superintendent of Police Gyan Kumar Mahato of the District Police Office in Dolakha, who said an avalanche hit Yalung Ri’s Base Camp, killing three Americans, a Canadian, an Italian and two Nepali nationals. The peak is located in the Rolwaling Valley of northeastern Nepal and at 5,630 meters (18,470 feet) is considered a nice beginner peak.
Authorities dispatched a helicopter to aid the survivors, who were reported to be four injured and four missing climbers as of the latest reports. However, poor weather thwarted their flights, so they will try again on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
With the usual warning that early reports are almost always incorrect, it’s unclear if the climbers were at base camp or climbing. One Nepali media outlet said, “the avalanche occurred at 8:30 a.m., roughly one and a half hours into the ascent on Monday morning, when the group was progressing through a steep ice slope.”
The operator remains unidentified, but Himalayan Adventure Intl Treks frequently organizes Yalung Ri expeditions. Companies such as Highland Expeditions, All Nepal Hiking, and Himalayan Magic Treks also guide commercial groups on this route.
Storm Warnings Issued Well In Advance
Nepal’s Tourism Board issued strong alerts, including on October 30, 2025. Official weather warnings were issued for Yalung Ri and the broader Himalayan region by Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and the Nepal Tourism Board, cautioning that dangerous conditions—such as heavy snowfall, rain, and avalanches—would continue until early November, following Cyclone Montha.
Ama Dablam Deaths
While we monitor our young American Ryan Mitchell with his partner, Justin Sackett, on Ama Dablam, two climbers died on the 6,812-metre (22,349-foot) aesthetic peak. Ryan reported:
Despite the bad weather, @justin.sackett and I managed to spend 2 nights at camp 1 as apart of our acclimatization, so now when the weather is kind we will be ready to go for the summit
Meteorologist Chris Tomer told me they should expect poor conditions: ” The Jet is overhead, especially 11/5-11/8. Summit wind in those days will likely exceed 30mph on Ama. Summit gusts could reach 45-50mph at times. Sustained wind 15-20mph.”
French climber Hugo Lucio Colonia Lazaro, 65, was hit in the head by falling ice while descending the peak last week and was evacuated to Kathmandu, where he died. Also, South Korean climber Hong Khy Park, 66, died between Camp 1 and Camp 2 while ascending on Saturday, with no cause of death announced
Ama has become extremely popular each Autumn season, with over 400 foreigners issued permits for this year.
Deaths in the Italian Alps
Five German climbers have died in the Italian Alps after being caught in an avalanche, the local authorities said on November 2, 2025. Two other climbers escaped unharmed. The accident occurred near Cima Vertana in the Ortler mountain range, close to the village of Solda. The avalanche struck as they were heading for the summit of the Ortler massif, part of the Italian Alps near the Swiss border.
Himlung Death Shrouded in Rescue Controversy
Australian climber Chin-Tark Chan, 49, fell ill during his ascent on October 29 and died while attempting Nepal’s popular Himlung Himal at 7,126 meters (23,379 feet). He was climbing with a Nepali operator from 8K Expeditions, who blamed the American evacuation company Global Rescue for not dispatching a helicopter immediately after notification. However, Global Rescue, through spokesperson Bill McIntyre, gave a different version of what happened:
“On October 27, we were notified that one of our members climbing on Himlung Himal had become ill near 6,800 meters. At that elevation, any airborne longline or hover rescue would have required a helicopter to operate above the maximum operating altitude set by Nepal Aviation regulations, creating unacceptable risk to the pilot, the climber and the rescue team. We therefore advised and instructed the guides to assist a descent to Camp 3, the nearest safe helicopter landing zone.”
“While we were coordinating a helicopter rescue at Camp 3 (20,9967 feet / 6,400 meters), the expedition operator independently launched a helicopter for a highly risky, hover attempt, which failed due to adverse weather conditions. The injured climber was then moved to Camp 3 as we had advised. Unfortunately, hours had been lost due to the failed hover attempt, and persistent snowfall across Himlung Himal prevented further helicopter launches that day.”
“On October 28, our approved helicopter rescue was prepared to launch as soon as conditions allowed, but the weather remained unsafe throughout the day. On October 29, national civil aviation authorities imposed a temporary ground stop on all helicopter flights following a crash elsewhere that was unrelated to this incident. Tragically, before a safe weather window presented, the client died below Camp 3 at approximately 6,500 meters. Our team then activated recovery and repatriation operations which are currently ongoing. We wish to express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased climber.”
Pemba Sherpa responded to my comment on what I believe was a misleading headline in the Himlayaan Times, posted on Rajan Pokhrel’s Facebook page. I post his comment unedited:
On 27 October, morning around 10am, I then called GR immediately stating only longline can save him. Frequently, the client requested me to send Longline heli rescue. The altitude that they were is 6700m. I had consulted with longline captains and they also said can be done. Then i ran immediately to aiport seeking Longline but at the same time Altitude air was busy on longline in Ama Dablam. And then I sent prabhu heli thinking that could land at that point but could not land at that elevation, but somehow we could drop 2 guides at C2. Some how those guides could reach to them and could bring to C3. But continuously, weather was bad and later could not save him. My concern: if Global immediately could send Kailas heli with longline whom Global had applied permission, he could be evacuated and saved. So above news report is true!
Rescue from Makalu
Spanish climber, Jesus Martinez Novas, was finally evacuated from the Makalu Base Camp at 5,700 meters after heavy snowfall prevented helicopter flights for six days.
My condolences to all the families, teammates and friends of the fallen.
Missing Italian Climbers
On Panbari, aka Pampari Himal, Italian climbers Stefano Farronato and Alessandro Caputo have been missing since the heavy snowfall from Cyclone Montha hit late last week. Panbari is a very remote 6,887m peak northwest of Manaslu. Rescue teams have been dispatched.
In Memory of Henry Todd
Through various sources, I learned today that legendary and notorious mountaineer and expedition organizer Henry Todd, from Edinburgh, Scotland, died of a stroke after heart surgery in Kathmandu. He was 80. I met Henry several times in Nepal, which was always an experience.
While trekking to Manaslu, I ran into him returning, saying, “I forgot my permit!” Always a character at Everest Base Camp, he was affectionately known as “the mayor of Base Camp,” or “the governor,” but more often simply as “the Toddfather.” He often held “court” in his tent with maps spread out over a full desk, and a bottle of his beloved Scotch, like The Famous Grouse or Glenfiddich and Glenlivet.
Todd organized over 70 major expeditions, including 45 to peaks above 8,000 meters. In the spring of 1995, he made history with the first Everest expedition, when eight team members reached the summit via the North Ridge. The team included Anatoli Boukreev.
Climb On!
Alan,
Memories are Everything
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