Manaslu Tragedy. A Catalan expedition from Spain attempted to climb Manaslu (8156 meters, 26,760 feet) via the standard northeast face but varying the route above 23,000 feet to follow a more direct line to the summit. The expedition’s leader, Enric Font and deputy leader, Pere Aymerich, attempted to reach the summit on May 10 from Camp V (24,275 feet) but got only to 24,900 feet when snowfall drove them back to camp. That evening on the walkie-talkie radio they reported to the other four members that they would descend the next day if weather permitted because they were not feeling well and because they had no more food. They did not respond to the next morning’s radio contact and were never seen or heard from again. When the weather cleared on the morning of May 12, those in Camp II could see where a huge slab avalanche had come down the mountain, sweeping the site of Camp V, which had completely disappeared. Those below were unable to mount any rescue and the two are presumed to have died in the avalanche, probably during the night of May 10 to 11. The expedition had spread itself very thin on the mountain: no one in any camps except II and V on May 10, no food in these or other camps except rice at Base Camp. Some food had been lost in earlier avalanches. The survivors left Base on May 15 but were unable to buy food at Sama because it was under snow and its potato crop ruined. The first food they could buy was not found until May 18.

Michael J. Cheney, Himalayan Club, and Elizabeth Hawley