A Nepalese mountaineer who has climbed Mount Everest 19 times is missing and feared dead in the Himalayas.
Chhewang Nima Sherpa, 43, was fixing ropes for a climbing group high on the 23,400ft (7,129m) Mount Baruntse on Saturday when a large avalanche swept him away. "It's been so long since he went missing. We fear that he is dead. If he is buried under the snow, there is no way he can survive," Jeeban Ghimire, director of Sherpa Shangri-La Treks, which organised the expedition, said.
"If he is stuck in a crevasse or an isolated place, he is an experienced and trained climber, so we think there is a chance for his survival."
Mr Ghimire said that a second sherpa was working with Mr Chhewang at a height of about 7,045 metres when the avalanche hit.
"Nyima Gyaljen is safe because he was 100 metres below Chhewang," he said. "The avalanche took Chhewang and he has been missing since then. Nyima informed the group at the base camp.
"The team is distraught. But we all understand that adventure climbing is very risky. Climbing is going to the death zone. Anything can happen anywhere, anytime."
Mr Ghimire said bad weather had hampered the rescue operation.
"We have started the aerial search again today. We have been in constant communications with our team members at base camp through satellite phone," he said.
Mr Chhewang is one ascent away from equalling the world record of summiting Mount Everest 20 times, which is held by Apa Sherpa.
"It's unlikely that he survived this accident," said Tilak Pandey, a senior official at the mountaineering department of the Nepal tourism ministry. "Windy weather has not been on our side. But we are still looking."
Mr Chhewang, a father of two daughters, climbed Everest twice earlier this year and has also climbed many of the Himalayas' other highest peaks.
"We are deeply saddened that our dear daring climber Chhewang Nima has been missing in an avalanche," said Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
"He is one of the most accomplished and experienced Sherpa guides."
The Telegraph
Mr Ghimire said that a second sherpa was working with Mr Chhewang at a height of about 7,045 metres when the avalanche hit.
"Nyima Gyaljen is safe because he was 100 metres below Chhewang," he said. "The avalanche took Chhewang and he has been missing since then. Nyima informed the group at the base camp.
"The team is distraught. But we all understand that adventure climbing is very risky. Climbing is going to the death zone. Anything can happen anywhere, anytime."
Mr Ghimire said bad weather had hampered the rescue operation.
"We have started the aerial search again today. We have been in constant communications with our team members at base camp through satellite phone," he said.
Mr Chhewang is one ascent away from equalling the world record of summiting Mount Everest 20 times, which is held by Apa Sherpa.
"It's unlikely that he survived this accident," said Tilak Pandey, a senior official at the mountaineering department of the Nepal tourism ministry. "Windy weather has not been on our side. But we are still looking."
Mr Chhewang, a father of two daughters, climbed Everest twice earlier this year and has also climbed many of the Himalayas' other highest peaks.
"We are deeply saddened that our dear daring climber Chhewang Nima has been missing in an avalanche," said Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
"He is one of the most accomplished and experienced Sherpa guides."
The Telegraph
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