Hilaree Nelson Missing on Manaslu

[Mike Thomas]

It is believed that Hilaree nelson has fallen into a deep crevasse while skiing off the summit of the world's eighth highest peak.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/world/asia/mountaineer-nepal-avalanche-manaslu.html

She is a remarkable athlete, I hope this isn't as bad as it sounds.

 

[James]

Sad.
Two thousand foot crevasse??!
This link should be free-

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/...ytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

 

[raisingarizona]

Sad.
Two thousand foot crevasse??!
This link should be free-

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/...ytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Maybe she fell 2000 feet and then into a crevasse?

Either way it doesn’t sound good.

 

[jmeb]

She is a remarkable athlete, I hope this isn't as bad as it sounds.

I hope it isn't -- but Jim skiing down makes it sound quite dark to me. They are long term partners in both skiing and life. I can't imagine he leaves if there's a smidge of hope.

 

[fatbob]

Yeah. I think it's the sign she was gone. It'll be some Touching the Void style miracle for anyone to fish her out alive unfortunately.

 

[Tricia]

We've been talking to some peole in her circle and it doesn't sound good.

Another article that isn't behind a paywall

North Face athlete Hilaree Nelson missing as Jim Morrison skies from Manaslu summit

North Face athlete Hilaree Nelson missing as Jim Morrison skies from Manaslu summit

thehimalayantimes.com

Manaslu Avalanche 2022 Update and Hilaree Nelson Missing

Out of 13 missing, 12 were rescued safely and one lost his life in an avalanche in Manaslu. Hilaree Nelson went missing in Manaslu on the same day.

heavenhimalaya.com

If you recall correctly, this is the same mountain where Glen Plake was on an expedition with some friends and was swept away whilein their tents.

 

[jmeb]

New reports make it sound like it wasn't a crevasse fall: https://everestchronicle.com/all-av..._ZGrcUr3iNv4wVCp7undr3FeQl8mvqprDS3IxgSNR5wDA

I was told similar thing this morning at work from a forecaster that was a regular ski partner of hers around the SJs.

Hoping...but it feels dim. What a (potentially) shit ending to a legendary life.

 

[neonorchid]

Renowned Ski Mountaineer Hilaree Nelson Missing on Manaslu

Renowned ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson is missing on Manaslu in Nepal. Eyewitnesses reported that Nelson, 45, fell more than 80 feet into a crevasse while descending on skis from the 26,781-foot peak with her partner, Jim Morrison.

backcountrymagazine.com

^"Eyewitnesses reported that Nelson, 49, fell more than 80 feet into a crevasse while descending on skis"


quite a discrepancy:


"Nelson’s ski blade skidded off few meters below the peak and she fell off the other side of the peak, according to Jiban Ghimire of Shangri-La Trek, Nelson’s outfitter. It could be an estimated 3000-meter free fall"

 

[LiquidFeet]

Those two reports are quite different. I expect that at some point the differences will be corrected.

@jmeb's link says this:
However, search and rescue operations to locate the missing legendary mountain skier Hilaree Nelson has been called off for the day. The helicopter went out at 7 am, which continuously searched on the south slope of the mountain. Her partner Jim Morrison was in the helicopter to locate her.

Nelson and Morrison stood atop the summit of Manaslu at 11.30am local time on Monday. They started skiing down from the top as planned. However, Nelson’s ski blade skidded off few meters below the peak and she fell off the other side of the peak, according to Jiban Ghimire of Shangri-La Trek, Nelson’s outfitter. It could be an estimated 3000-meter free fall from the peak.

@neonorchid's link says this:
According to The Himalayan Times, renowned ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson is missing on Manaslu in Nepal. Eyewitnesses reported that Nelson, 49, fell more than 80 feet into a crevasse while descending on skis from the 26,781-foot peak with her partner, Jim Morrison.....In an unrelated incident, at least 12 climbers were injured in an avalanche below Camp IV. At least five of the injured climbers are in critical condition, according to a report from The Himalayan Times.

 

[jmeb]

@LiquidFeet -- and there's another eyewitness account that says she was in a small avalanche near the summit. May be a while before we get clarity. Or we may never. It's tragic no matter the sequence of events.

 

[charlier]

Further information, the avi danger was high and it seems that Hillary fell off from near the summit in direction to Annapurna side. The terrain is extremely steep. It’s not clear if she fell into a crevasse.

 

[locknload]

Was watching this story yesterday. Heartbreaking. Her film with Jim when they summited and skied Lhotse with Jimmy Chin doing the camera work is remarkable. I found it so moving on so many levels and I'm very sad to hear of this. She was a remarkable mountaineer and inspiration to so many. Its a must watch and great way to remember her.

Lhotse face descent on skis

 

[slidingmike]

Here’s What We Know About the Search for Hilaree Nelson

Two days after Nelson went missing on Manaslu, details about the ski mountaineer’s accident are emerging

www.outsideonline.com

 

[James]

Alan Arnette talked about Manaslu last Thursday before this happened.

———————————————-
The Manaslu 2022 season is moving nicely, with the first client summits for the season on Thursday, September 22, 2022. There are a record number of people there, with 400 foreigners with permits and an equal or greater r number of support climbers, so it's crowded. This means there is an opportunity for more trash, crowds, and poor practices.
In this podcast, I talk about my 2013 experience on Manaslu plus how we can take better care of our mountains.
Climb On!
Alan
Memories are Everything
——————-

 

[charlier]

Manaslu: Summits, Deaths, Chaos » Explorersweb

The news from Manaslu is contradictory and confusing, but here is what we do know. At least one climber is dead and about 12 injured after an avalanche.

explorersweb.com

The title of the article is misleading, but the article provides additional information regarding conditions on Manaslu.

 

[jmeb]

Hilaree Nelson: Body of famed US climber found on Mt Manaslu in Himalayas

Hilaree Nelson had been skiing down from the world's eighth highest summit when she fell.

www.bbc.com

She will be dearly missed. A legend and hero to so many.

 

[4ster]

The worst outcome .
She was such a badass for so long!
RIP

 

[Mattadvproject]

Rest in peace Hilaree..... another gone too soon.

 

[princo]

Sad to hear of the outcome. Some articles said she had fallen on a crevasse, but on the articles linked above, it mentions she went missing just below the summit of 8,163m and her body was recovered at 6,000m? So a 2,100 meter (almost 7k') drop?

 

[Lauren]

Sad to hear of the outcome. Some articles said she had fallen on a crevasse, but on the articles linked above, it mentions she went missing just below the summit of 8,163m and her body was recovered at 6,000m? So a 2,100 meter (almost 7k') drop?

Firsthand account from her partner Jim Morrison, absolutely heartbreaking: