Swiss climber falls to death, preparing for Everest ascent

Posted by:  Reuters/Kathmandu | Date: May 01, 2017

* Steck, 40, was a veteran climber

* Fall took place near Western Ridge\'s Camp Two

An experienced Swiss climber died on Sunday after he fell in the Everest region of Nepal during preparations to climb the world\'s highest mountain, the first to perish in the current climbing season, officials said.

Ueli Steck, 40, died after falling to the foot of Mount Nuptse, a smaller peak in the area, said Mingma Sherpa of the Seven Summits Treks company that organised Steck\'s expedition.

Steck was in the area acclimatising ahead of a bid to climb Everest through the less-climbed West Ridge route and traverse to Lhotse, the world\'s fourth highest peak - at 8,516 metres (27,940 feet) in May.

\"His body has been retrieved and is being brought to Kathmandu,\" Sherpa told Reuters.

Kamal Prasad Parajuli, an official with Nepal\'s Department of Tourism, confirmed Steck died while climbing Nuptse and that he had planned to attempt an Everest ascent.

He said Steck, who climbed Everest in 2012, \"slipped and fell 1,000 metres\" in the Western Cwm along the normal route to Everest.

The incident took place near the route\'s Camp Two, which is located at an altitude of 6,400 metres (21,000 feet), Parajuli said.

A veteran climber of Mount Annapurna in western Nepal, the world\'s tenth highest mountain, and several other 8,000 metre peaks, Steck had won several awards for his mountaineering feats.

Along with two other European climbers, Steck was involved in a brawl with sherpa guides over fixing ropes in 2013. The altercation, which forced the climbers off the mountain, drew international headlines.

Last year, Steck and a German climber discovered the bodies of two famed American climbers, Alex Lowe and David Bridges, who were swept away in 1999 by an avalanche during their attempt to scale the world\'s 14th highest peak, Shishapangma.

Hundreds of climbers gather at Everest base camp during the March-May climbing season as they prepare to climb the 8,850 metre (29,035 feet) Everest summit.

 

MORE:

• Swiss climber falls to death, preparing for Everest ascent | May 01, 2017
• Travel Photography Training concludes | March 15, 2017
• Bird Watching Training Conducted By TAAN | January 14, 2016
• TAAN Pokhara Chapter Explored New Trail | January 14, 2016
• Post-Trauma Relief and Meditation Program | June 22, 2015
• Nepal Promoted in Chicago, US | January 28, 2015
• 51st AGM of NATTA Organised | January 28, 2015
• KMC Resumes Beautification Work | January 27, 2015
• 3 New Paragliding Companies Open in Pokhara | January 27, 2015
• Japanese Film Festival in Pokhara | January 26, 2015
• German Ambassador Visits Tilaurakot | January 26, 2015
• Nepal listed as world's cheap travel destination | January 25, 2015
• Buddhism on Tour | January 11, 2015
• Surkhet Can Become a Paragliding Hub: NAA | January 11, 2015
• 24 Oxen to Contest Bull Fight in Nuwakot | January 11, 2015
• Cleanliness Campaign at Pashupatinath Temple Premises | January 11, 2015
• Seven Summits Women Team Arrive Home | January 11, 2015
• Thai Hospitality Chain Dusit to Manage Hotel Annapurna | January 09, 2015
• NAC’s New Airbus to Arrive at TIA on Feb 7 | January 09, 2015
• THE 8TH MEETING OF NEPAL-TIBET (CHINA) JOINT COMMITTEE FOR TOURISM PROMOTION | January 08, 2015