A massive avalanche swept the upper sections of Ama Dablam this morning. So far, there are no reports of any injuries, but the slide may affect teams planning to climb the mountain.
Climbers in the area said the slide began after a chunk of the “Dablam” — the huge hanging glacier right below the summit — broke off.
We will wait for updates about possible damage to camps and ropes.
Below, a brief clip of the avalanche as seen from Base Camp, shared by Tomas Otrubo and Libor Hruby of the Czech Ama Dablam Expedition.
Pioneer Adventure reported that one of their groups summited Ama Dablam yesterday. The climbers will have two good reasons to celebrate when they make it down to Base Camp. In addition to summiting, they were lucky to descend all the way to Camp 1 yesterday, out of the slide path, a Pioneer Adventure spokesperson told ExplorersWeb.
Climate change, or one-off event?
News of the avalanche quickly spread through the Khumbu Valley to Everest Base Camp. There, Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking told ExplorersWeb, “I am worried about the fact that the Dablam is breaking off in huge chunks.”
Asked if the recent avalanche may have destabilized the Dablam area and increased risks for those planning to summit shortly, Dawa replied: “I don’t think it’s unsafe, especially after having unloaded a huge amount of unstable ice. I’m just sad that the whole hanging serac from which Ama Dablam derives its name is disappearing.”
Below, a photo of the “Dablam” today after the avalanche…
Ama Dablam’s “Dablam” glacier today right after the avalanche. Photo: Tomas Otruba and Libor Hruby
…and a photo of the same section that Dawa Steven Sherpa shot on April 12:
Ama Dablam’s upper sections as seen from the Khumbu. Photo: Dawa Steven Sherpa/Asian Trekking
