# At least 12 Sherpa guides dead in Mt. Everest avalanche **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 18, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422 "2014-04-18T15:02:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/61 "2015-04-26T10:58:35Z")
I don’t think it’s entirely a matter of callous indifference on the part of the media, we’ve seen the same pattern before with major earthquakes. There’s always a lag between when it happens and we get reporting because initially all communication in and out of the area gets disrupted. Especially in this day of the video being king, there are no pictures initially. That will change. I expect coverage to pick up today and tomorrow on all aspects of the quake. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/62 "2015-04-26T13:32:36Z")
According to this Guardian article, no casualties at Camps 1 and 2 higher up on the mountain, but the route through the ice field has been destroyed. Focus now is on trying to get casualties from Base Camp to safety. How much food would the climbers at the two upper camps have? > **[Deadly Everest avalanche triggered by Nepal earthquake](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/25/deadly-everest-avalanche-triggered-by-nepal-earthquake)** > > Death toll of 17 on world’s highest mountain expected to rise after avalanche sweeps through base camp and traps climbers at higher altitude ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/63 "2015-04-26T13:46:55Z")
I wonder if the Nepal Government will place a stop on climbing Everest…if aftershocks continue, it may well be too dangerous. of course, Nepal gets a lot of revenue from Everest climbing, so who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/64 "2015-04-26T14:13:33Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I wonder if the Nepal Government will place a stop on climbing Everest…if aftershocks continue, it may well be too dangerous. of course, Nepal gets a lot of revenue from Everest climbing, so who knows. The climbing has got to be over for the year. I imagine everyone there now just wants to get away from the area as fast as possible. Conditions are too dangerous even for the most reckless. There were people all over the mountain with groups from several countries. I wonder how long it will take to account for everyone? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/65 "2015-04-26T15:39:01Z")
Of the last 40 years, 1977 was the **only** one without a documented death on Everest. [The current list.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_died_climbing_Mount_Everest) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/66 "2015-04-26T16:00:00Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I wonder if the Nepal Government will place a stop on climbing Everest The route through the Kumbu Icefalls was obliterated by the avalanches, so no climbing can happen until a route is re-established. I suspect that won’t happen any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/67 "2015-04-26T16:08:03Z")
[Some](http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2015/04/avalanche%201.jpg) [pictures of the avalanche](http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2015/04/avalanche%200.jpg) [about to hit Base Camp.](http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2015/04/everest%201.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/68 "2015-04-26T16:28:12Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The route through the Kumbu Icefalls was obliterated by the avalanches, so no climbing can happen until a route is re-established. I suspect that won’t happen any time soon. Doesn’t it have to happen to allow the climbers at camps 1 and 2 to get down? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/69 "2015-04-26T19:10:32Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Doesn’t it have to happen to allow the climbers at camps 1 and 2 to get down? Yes, a route will need to be established, but it doesn’t have to be big enough to handle the loads going up the mountain. With a sense of urgency they may establish a quick and dirty route to evacuate everyone up high. Not sure what they have planned, but with the chaos and disaster all around I suspect that there won’t be enough resources or will to continue with any expeditions. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/70 "2015-04-26T19:48:05Z")
The route up the Kumbu Icefalls is typically along a well-engineered route of fixed ropes and ladders set up at the beginning of the season in order to accommodate large numbers of climbers of varying skill. And even heavily nerfed, it’s still the most dangerous part. Nobody is going to approach that with only an improvised emergency route. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/71 "2015-04-26T19:53:16Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Nobody is going to approach that with only an improvised emergency route. One should think that if the options are “approach with an improvised emergency route” or “wait to starve/freeze to death”, the choice would be clear. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/72 "2015-04-26T19:53:59Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > The route up the Kumbu Icefalls is typically along a well-engineered route of fixed ropes and ladders set up at the beginning of the season in order to accommodate large numbers of climbers of varying skill. And even heavily nerfed, it’s still the most dangerous part. Nobody is going to approach that with only an improvised emergency route. Especially with frequent aftershocks rearranging everything. Perhaps all climbers can be coptered down? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/73 "2015-04-26T19:59:40Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > The reason the absolute numbers are so high, though, is because so many people attempt to climb it. On a fatality rate basis, Everest is actually one of the safer 8000m peaks. Only about 5% have died in the attempt. Compare that to K2, which has a 25% fatality rate, and Annapurna, which is a fairly appalling 40%. I’ve read a number of books by career climbers who have summited Everest and the general opinion seems to be that it’s very tall, but as far as the 8000m peaks go it’s not so much a technically challenging climb. Which of course makes it more appealing to underqualified tourist climbers who wouldn’t have a prayer of sniffing the summit of K2. man…you really have to want to summit Annapurna-40% death rate? Scary!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/74 "2015-04-26T20:52:34Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Especially with frequent aftershocks rearranging everything. Perhaps all climbers can be coptered down? Taking them down by helicopter is probably a lot more dangerous. And resources that could do that are probably more valuable elsewhere in Nepal right now. There are other routes down that don’t go through the Icefalls that may be possible for emergency evac. The danger in the icefalls can be partially mitigated by choosing the time of day when things are more stable. Unfortunately, the earthquakes don’t follow a schedule. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/75 "2015-04-26T20:58:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > One should think that if the options are “approach with an improvised emergency route” or “wait to starve/freeze to death”, the choice would be clear. Sorry, I meant “approach upwards for a totally optional summit attempt”, not “approach downward for a life saving rescue.” ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/76 "2015-04-26T21:37:43Z")
A video of the avalanch from base camp. Many uses of ‘the F-word.’ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_JC_wIWUC2U/maxresdefault.jpg "Hit by Avalanche in Everest Basecamp 25.04.2015") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JC_wIWUC2U) ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/77 "2015-04-26T21:39:58Z")
(doublepost) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/78 "2015-04-27T01:26:36Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Taking them down by helicopter is probably a lot more dangerous. And resources that could do that are probably more valuable elsewhere in Nepal right now. Looks like they are talking about helicopter evacs after all. [http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dozens-stuck-everest-20-000-194355941.html](http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dozens-stuck-everest-20-000-194355941.html) > [@](#): > > “At this point our only option to get down is by helicopter evacuation,” Madison wrote. “Our plan is to descend tomorrow to Camp 1 and hopefully with good weather fly to base camp to reconnect with the other members of our expedition who survived the avalanche.” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/79 "2015-04-27T12:04:54Z")
Although someone _has_ landed a helicopter on the summit of Everest the environment is marginal for such aircraft. The highest successful helicopter rescue was from Camp 3 on Everest. So helicopter evacuations from the mountain are possible, but are not done lightly. The weather conditions have to be correct, you need a skilled pilot, there are issues with how much weight the helicopter can manage, and it’s high enough that the pilots are at risk of complications due to thin air. If those on the mountain are safe for right now, with sufficient food and fuel, it’s better to wait a few days and do a careful, thought evacuation than put anyone at further risk by acting with haste. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422/80 "2015-04-27T12:27:57Z")
They have limited food and fuel from what I read because it’s still early in the climbing season and the upper camps are still in the process of being supplied. They can’t hunker down for any significant amount of time. They won’t be in shape to get to Camp 1 which gives the best chance for a helicopter rescue. Hunkering down in the tents at 21,000 without supplies can be difficult even for short periods. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-12-sherpa-guides-dead-in-mt-everest-avalanche/686422.md?page=5)