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
Autumn 2025: Deadly Season Across the Himalaya
The 2025 Himalayan Autumn climbing has been a deadly one with multiple deaths across several mountains. Similarly, several events occurred in the Alps, taking five lives. Authorities had warned strongly about heavy snow in the Himalaya and advised climbers and trekkers to pause all activity for a few days.
Autumn 2025: Dire Weather for Himalays Ahead, Everest NF Ski Descent Film Teaser
Authorities and meteorologists are issuing dire warnings for climbers and trekkers in Nepal’s Himalayas. Seizing the opportunity to pre-market the documentary of Jim Morrison’s legendary ski descent down Everest’s North Face, National Geographic released a short teaser revealing the scale and courage it took to complete this feat. A Russian team opens a new route on Manaslu.
The recent heavy snowfall across both sides of Everest created a host of false and poorly written and researched articles about “stranded climbers on Everest.” The only climbers on Everest were the NatGeo ski team and they were never stranded. Many teams of seasonal trekkers were stranded in Tibet’s Kama (or Karma) Valley, east of Mount Everest, but all were rescued by local villagers and SARs teams. Bottom line is there was drama but nothing to get seriously worked up over.
As the Himalayan season winds down climbing action picks up on Puncak Jaya or Carstensz Pyramid on the island of New Guinea, Kilimanjaro, Antartica’s Vinson Massif and around the New Years, Argentina’s Aconcagua.
Autumn 2025: Everest NF Ski Descent, Everest Legend Death and More
While teams summited Cho Oyu, the world’s sixth-highest peak, a fifty-year-old American skied down the North Face of Mt. Everest. An Everest 1953 legend has passed away.
The recent heavy snowfall across both sides of Everest created a host of false and poorly written and researched articles about “stranded climbers on Everest.” The only climbers on Everest were the NatGeo ski team and they were never stranded. Many teams of seasonal trekkers were stranded in Tibet’s Kama (or Karma) Valley, east of Mount Everest, but all were rescued by local villagers and SARs teams. Bottom line is there was drama but nothing to get seriously worked up over.
As the Himalayan season winds down climbing action picks up on Puncak Jaya or Carstensz Pyramid on the island of New Guinea, Kilimanjaro, Antartica’s Vinson Massif and around the New Years, Argentina’s Aconcagua.
Autumn 2025: Stranded Tourists, Manaslu Summits and More
Somewhat surprisingly for this time of year, a massive snowstorm hit Southern Tibet, stranding tourists but not climbers. However, one climber died on a Nepal trekking peak. The storm moved on, allowing climbers to continue. Prior to the storm, excellent weather enabled hundreds of Manslu summit and nice progress on the other peaks. There is a ski attempt on the north side of Everest.
Autumn 2025: Everest Ski Descent and Manaslu Records
With excellent weather and hordes of climbers with massive support, records are being broken across the Himalayas. First, there was a no O’s ski descent from Everest’s summit, then multiple speed and the youngest summits on Manaslu. Climbing continues across the 8000ers. So far, 457 climbers from 47 expedition teams—including 347 men and 110 women—have received permits. On Manaslu, at least 170 members were supported by 187 Sherpas, totalling 357 summits, with more to come.
Autumn 2025: Nepal Unrest as Climbing Begins
The Autumn Himalayan season is well underway with minimal impact from the violence and protest that occurred in mid-September in Kathmandu.
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.
Does Ecuador Replace Nepal for Best 20,000-foot Climbs?
I just returned from a rewarding trip to Ecuador to climb three of their volcanoes. I went with US-based, Mountain Madness. While this was my seventh trip to South America, it was my first to Ecuador and now I see what I’ve been missing! I’ve been climbing and going to Nepal 13 times since 1997. […]
Helping Nepal: Himalayan Stove Project
Like so many of my readers, George Basch made a trip to Nepal that changed his life forever. Today he is the “Chief Cook” of the non-profit Himalayan Stove Project. They provide clean cook stoves to thousands throughout Nepal and are truly changing lives. You can help by funding a stove for only $150 that will reduce […]