For the second time in just over a month, a violent storm is approaching Nepal and threatening two meters of fresh snow on already overloaded mountains. This new setback comes at the height of the trekking season and also affects several climbing teams, including those engaged in alpine-style expeditions in remote areas.
The first storm hit Nepal toward the end of September and abruptly ended the climbing season on Manaslu. Worst of all, it caused an avalanche that killed 16 Base Camp staff on Himlung. The mountain remained open to commercial expeditions despite the accident, and several guided teams are currently launching their summit pushes.
Manaslu Base Camp tents buried under the snow after the September storm in Nepal. Photo: Shiddi Ghising
Forecast
A low-pressure front that formed in the Bay of Bengal has now developed into a deep depression and will turn into a full cyclone tomorrow. It is expected to hit Nepal on Wednesday or Thursday through the end of the week.
The Nepal National Mountain Guides Association, in association with Senior Meteorologist Krishna Bhakta Manandhar, has put out a detailed forecast. They note that clouds spreading out from this system will hit Nepal’s mountains on October 28, especially above 6,500-7,000m in the eastern part of Nepal, including the Khumbu and Kanchenjunga regions. This will spread over the next two days, causing heavy rains throughout Nepal and snow at higher altitudes.
Warnings
Authorities and local media have urged trekkers and climbers to modify their plans and avoid river areas and high passes. The main concern is for those currently in remote areas without InReach, Starlink, or satphones.
Trekkers should check with local agencies, especially those heading for the Annapurna and Manaslu regions. Several passes there were already cut or in poor condition after the previous storm and subsequent floods.
Climbing teams
A Russian team in the Kangchenjunga region is acclimatizing to climb 7,710m Jannu. According to their latest report, they plan to touch 7,000m before attempting their main goal.
Fellow Russians attempting the West Ridge of Everest have retreated to Kathmandu to rest and recover, so they should not be affected. Andrei Vasiliev, Serguey Kondrashkin, and Vitaly Shipilov, all climbing without supplemental oxygen, are enduring some lung problems. They returned to Base Camp from their second foray up the mountain last Friday, without reaching 7,500m, as they’d hoped.
Winter soloist replanning
After climbing in the Cholu range, Jost Kobusch of Germany and his small team moved to the Manaslu area for the second stage of his acclimatization before attempting Everest solo in winter, also without oxygen and via the West Ridge. However, the poor state of the trails after the recent floods and the approaching cyclone have thwarted his plans.
“The flood cut our planned path and, according to forecasts, the incoming cyclone will leave up to two meters of snow,” Kobusch told ExplorersWeb from Samagaon, where the team is pondering their options.
