American mountaineer dies in Makalu avalanche
Co-founder of US expedition firm Dash Adventures killed during descent from world’s fifth-highest peak; partner and Nepali guides injured
American mountaineer Shelley Johannesen, 59, has died in an avalanche on Mount Makalu while descending from the world’s fifth-highest peak, expedition organisers said on Monday.
Johannesen, co-founder of US-based outfitter Dash Adventures, was struck by the avalanche on Sunday morning at around 7,000 metres during her descent from the 8,485-metre summit, which she had reached a day earlier.
She was part of a four-member team that included her climbing partner David Ashley and Nepali guides Tawa Sherpa and Phurba Sonam Sherpa. The group summited Makalu at 10:30 a.m. on May 9 in favourable weather conditions, according to expedition organiser.
Rescue teams airlifted Ashley and Tawa to Kathmandu for treatment. Officials said their condition was stable.
Johannesen died at the scene, expedition organiser Expedition Himalaya said. Her body was later recovered from around 7,200 metres by a team of six Sherpa climbers and flown to Kathmandu by helicopter on Monday afternoon for post-mortem, said Navin Trital, Managing Director at Expedition Himalaya.
Dash Adventures, founded in 2018 by Johannesen and Ashley, specialises in small, tailor-made expeditions. The pair had previously attempted Mount Everest, turning back above the South Col during a prior season.
The Makalu incident is the second fatality in the region this spring season, following the death of Czech climber David Roubinek last week, who died on Makalu II during an ascent, officials said.
This news has been updated
