Annapurna 2025: Podcast with John Black on Sherpa Deaths
As I previously reported, two Sherpas lost their lives when struck by an avalanche on the 8000er, Annapurna, on April 7, 2025. Ngima Tashi and Rima Rinje were swept into a deep crevasse between Camps 2 and 3. Four days later, Sherpas located their bodies using RECCO reflective technology after several helicopter searches proved unsuccessful. Retrieval was not attempted due to the bodies being inside a deep crevasse and the ongoing avalanche danger. In the Podcast are multiple still images from his climb, plus a video of the actual avalanche taken by John. #annapurna2025 #everest2025
Annapurna 2025: Summit and Missing Sherpas
Multiple teams, including 8K, Imagine, Pioneer, and Seven Summits Treks, reported summits on April 6 and 7, perhaps over 45. However, as of 8:ooPM, April 7 local time, two Sherpas are missing between Camps 2 and 3 due to an avalanche. This area was the most concerning for everyone, as South Africans Warren Eva and John Black posted an excellent video update from base camp. Warren summited while John turned back.
#annapurna2025. #everest2025
Annapurna 2025: Risky Decisions – April 7 Update: Summits and Missing Sherpas
According to long-time Sherpa climbers, Annanupurna is experiencing some of the worst conditions ever. After an abnormally dry winter, the lower mountain, usually snow-covered, is bone dry, and the upper mountain is hard-packed, blue ice. Climbers are not using their mountaineering boots or crampons to reach Camp 1.
Also, large, wide, and deep open crevasses pose problems. Then, in a twist, heavy snowfall is predicted in a few days, forcing teams to either rush or delay their summit plans. The fixed ropes are only to Camp 3, and it’s been deemed that the traditional Camp 4, from which all summit pushes began, should not be put up. This will make for an extraordinary long summit push.
It will be interesting to see how the dry winter impacted Everest and Lhotse this year. I expect a similar dry climbing scenario.
#annapurna2025. #everest2025