Posted on 05/06/2005 6:05:07 AM PDT by nuconvert
Mt. Everest Avalanche Injures Climbers
Friday, May 06, 2005
KATMANDU, Nepal — Medics in a makeshift tent hospital on Mount Everest (search) on Friday treated six climbers injured in an avalanche, while rescuers hoping to evacuate the victims in helicopters were turned back by snowfall and strong wind.
No one was killed by the avalanche early Thursday, which swept through the first of four camps set up between Everest's base camp and the mountain's 29,035-foot summit.
Six climbers received injuries ranging from bruises to a possible broken back, reports from the mountain said. The victims' nationalities were still unclear.
They were being treated at a hospital run by the Himalayan Rescue Association (search) in a tent at the base camp, located at an elevation of 17,400 feet.
Climbers estimate about 40 tents were destroyed by the avalanche, which buried food, supplies and oxygen stocked by the climbers.
There are no roads to the base camp and the only ways out are to hike for a week to the nearest airstrip or by helicopter.
In the past few days, strong winds and snowfall have slowed climbers on the mountain and created treacherous conditions.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Prayers for them all.
Their ordeal is just starting.
You can't simply call an ambulance to come and get the people to medical care.
It will be days or even weeks before these people will get to a hospital.
One fell in a crevasse and another of a heart attack.
I always saw Everest's altitude recorded at 29,028 feet. Is our little mountain growing up?
" Is our little mountain growing up?"
I guess it has.........
"29,035 (8850m)-found to be 6' higher in 1999 http://www.mnteverest.net/history.html
And here's a site for a virtual climb (if you feel up to it).........
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/highspeed/everest/
Thank the Indian subcontinental plate for that. It's continuing collision with Asia is still forcing the Himalayans higher.
[sniff] They grow up so fast ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.