Sherpa Dies and Cyclone Hits Everest

Pemba Tashi Sherpa, a young Sherpa guide working with the Climbing the Seven Summits team, has died on Everest while descending from Camp 2 to Camp 1. Details are scarce, but his body was apparently recovered from a crevasse, The Himalayan Times reported. Just 27 years old, Pemba Tashi had already summited Everest five times.

Since making landfall on India’s west coast two days ago, Cyclone Tauktae has caused havoc. Now, it is hitting the Himalaya. Nepal’s Department of Tourism has advised those in the mountains to shelter from the wind. This follows a previous warning from Nepal’s Meteorological Forecasting Division. Despite this, some teams have launched a tentative summit push, hoping for conditions to improve soon.

Bad weather has settled on the mountain, as seen this afternoon from the Everest Weather Station.

 

Climbing the Seven Summits has not yet announced the loss of their team member. Earlier today, however, they did report on “inclement conditions…with some snow and wind up high”. They then added that the weather should clear in the next 24 hours.