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Anna Gutu (†33) and Gina Marie Rzudlico (†45) each want to be the first American woman to conquer all 14 eight-thousanders. They both just have to climb Shishapangma. But last Saturday disaster struck.
Gutu and her Nepalese mountain guide Mingmar Sherpa are caught in an avalanche about 200 meters below the summit. Just two hours later, Rzudlico (†45) and her guide Tenjen “Lama” Sherpa were swept away by an avalanche.
“I can’t digest what happened”
Kosovar mountaineer Uta Ibrahimi (40) experiences the tragedy firsthand. She is the first woman from Kosovo to climb Mount Everest and now wanted to conquer Shishapangma. She comments on the events on the mountain on Facebook.
She writes: “My dear friends, I am not well, but I am still alive.” Although the Shishapangma is the lowest eight-thousander, it is considered particularly dangerous due to the many avalanches. “I still can’t believe and process what really happened.”
She had been on the mountain with her team since the end of September and was getting acclimatized. Then several teams came and she heard about the women’s competition.
Record hunter continues to rise despite avalanche danger
On the day of the climb, she left base camp at 4 am. “I was right behind the three big teams.” They eventually reached an altitude of 7,600 meters. “I saw the first avalanche and was shocked to discover that three people were with it, including Anna and Mingmar!” She was so shocked and thought for a long time about what to do.
She immediately abandoned her goal of reaching the top. Out of respect for the dead mountain climbers and because it was too unsafe. She then turned back and was shocked to see the other record chaser, Gina Marie Rzudlico, continuing her climb despite the accident.
“I am shocked”
Ibrahimi writes: “After a while I saw the other avalanche, the big one, that came from the top and swept away Lama and Gina!” She couldn’t believe that four people had died in just three hours. ‘I am shocked. How careless can people be in the face of a huge mountain – and for what?”
Ibrahimi writes that mountaineering has a fundamental problem. “I’ve heard over and over again over the last few years that with the way climbing has become in the Himalayas, a major tragedy is going to happen and people might start thinking about it.” That’s what happened now. “My heart is broken.” (neo)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
