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Another three climbers have perished during Himalayan expeditions in Nepal, organisers said on Tuesday, casting a shadow over celebrations this week of the first summit of Everest 60 years ago.
A 67-year-old Japanese woman named as Chizuko Kono and 50-year-old Spaniard Juanjo Garra went missing on Friday on Mount Dhaulagiri along with their Nepalese guide and were confirmed dead on Tuesday.
The death toll from this year’s climbing season, the 60th since Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary reached the summit of Mount Everest for the first time, is now at 16.
Garra was marooned high on the mountain after he slipped and broke his ankle, organisers said, but it was not immediately clear what happened to Kono and her guide high on the avalanche-prone peak.
“He couldn’t walk any more, even the next day, but his guide stayed with him to help as much as he could,” said Tika Gurung, the expedition organiser, adding that a helicopter rescue was impossible due to the altitude.
Every May, hundreds of climbers from around the world attempt to scale peaks in the Himalayas when weather conditions are at their best, but the dangers from avalanches, injuries and bad weather remain.
“Although technology has improved mountaineering, there’s only so much it can help in one’s efforts,” said Temba Tsheri Sherpa, an Everest veteran who now runs an expedition company.
Garra was attempting to summit the 8,167-metre peak of Dhaulagiri as part of his quest to top all of the 14 peaks of more than 8,000 metres in the world, eight of which are in Nepal.
To mark the anniversary of the first summit of Everest on Wednesday, Hillary’s son Peter and Norgay’s son Jamling will join Queen Elizabeth II at a diamond jubilee event at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
Celebratory events at Everest include a clean-up campaign at base camp and a high-altitude marathon.
In the capital Kathmandu, a gala featuring record-setting summiteers and top brass from Nepal’s government will be held at the city’s former royal palace.

The celebrations have already been marred by an unprecedented brawl between European climbers and Nepalese guides that erupted on the increasingly crowded mountain earlier this year.
Eight people have died on Mount Everest this season, including a Nepalese Sherpa who had reached the summit 10 times and previously ran expeditions to recover dead bodies from the slopes.
Another five climbers died on Kanchenjunga – the world’s third-highest peak – a week ago, according to Nepalese tourism officials.
Above 8,000-metres is known as the “death zone” as the oxygen available is not sufficient to sustain human life.
Dhaulagiri has a high death rate for climbers, according to Himalayan Database, a statistical hub run by Kathmandu-based mountaineering expert Elizabeth Hawley.


Three climbers die in Nepal on eve of Everest anniversary

Climbers descend towards Mount Everest's Camp 4 on their way to the summit. The death toll from this year’s climbing season has now reached 16. Photo: AP

Plan for safety ladder on Everest's 'Hillary Step' gains support

The infamous 'Hillary Step', the final obstacle in the ascent to the summit of Everest. Photo: AFP

Japanese mountaineer, 80, becomes oldest person to conquer Everest 

Adventurer Yuichiro Miura (right) and his son Gota pose for a photo as they leave camp to begin the last stage of their ascent. Photo: AFP

Students celebrate after hearing of Miura's feat. Photo: AP

Harry's view

Two die on Everest as good weather lures hundreds of climbers

Mount Everest, seen from Tibet. Photo: Xinhua

European climbers flee Everest after confrontation with Sherpas

Ueli Steck, Jon Griffith and Simone Moro. Photo: SCMP Pictures

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Another three climbers have perished during Himalayan expeditions in Nepal, casting a shadow over celebrations this week of the first summit of Everest 60 years ago.


Three climbers die in Nepal on eve of Everest anniversary

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Another three climbers have perished during Himalayan expeditions in Nepal, casting a shadow over celebrations this week of the first summit of Everest 60 years ago.

Another three climbers have perished during Himalayan expeditions in Nepal, casting a shadow over celebrations this week of the first summit of Everest 60 years ago.