Alyssa Azar was in the area where the avalanche hit the day before the deadly accident. Pic: Jamie Hanson Source: News Corp Australia
A QUEENSLAND teenager was lucky to avoid a deadly avalanche on the slopes of Mt Everest this week.
At least six people have been confirmed dead in the tragedy early yesterday, but there are fears the toll will be higher than the mountain’s worst disaster in 1996, when eight people perished.
Alyssa Azar, 17, from Toowoomba, is attempting to become the youngest Australian to climb the world’s highest mountain and she was in the same area just hours before the avalanche hit.
“She contacted us by satellite phone to let us know she is safe,’’ her father Glenn Azar said.
“It is a big relief.
“Alyssa and her group were in the same area the day before it happened. That’s where she was climbing.’’
Despite the scare, Mr Azar said his daughter was determined to push ahead with her bid to make history by conquering the 8,850-metre summit.
This photo was taken on a trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp, where Alyssa Azar was at the time of the avalanche. Picture: Shirley Sheppard Source: Supplied
“She said: ‘I understand this is the nature of the beast and I will stay focused.
“’If anything happened, I would feel guilty for putting you and mum through it, but I accept the risks’,” Alyssa told them.
Nepalese officials said the avalanche struck at about 6.24am local time (10am Australian time) in an area known as the “popcorn field’’ at an altitude of about 5,800m, just below Camp 2.
“Alyssa had climbed to about 6000m,’’ her father said. “She crossed the ice fall as part of her preparations.’’
Nepalese officials say six people are dead, with another nine missing.
All the victims are believed to be Nepalese sherpas working on the peak ahead of the start of the climbing season.
An Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were not aware of any Australians involved in the avalanche.
Alyssa and her seven-strong group are among hundreds of climbers, guides and support crew gathered at the Everest base camp, acclimatising to the altitude and gearing up for attempted ascents to the peak when weather conditions improve next month.
Toowoomba adventurer and mountain climber Alyssa Azar hopes to become the youngest woman and the youngest Australian to conquer Mt Everest. Pic: Jamie Hanson Source: News Corp Australia
Authorities immediately imposed a 10-day hold on anyone crossing the notorious Khumbu Ice Fall.
It is renowned as one of the most treacherous stages on the Sol Col route to the summit. Massive crevasses can split open almost without warning, sending blocks of ice down.
Mr Azar, who is due to join his daughter in a couple of weeks, said he was happy to let “the experts on the ground decide the next move.
“We know it’s risky but you have to let kids chase their dreams.’’
It is possible that officials could decide to close the mountain for the season in the wake of the tragedy.
“Alyssa would be devastated, but I would be quite relieved,’’ her father said.
More than 200 people have died attempting to climb Mt Everest, including at least six Australians.
Dean Higgins, from Adelaide, was killed in an avalanche at Mt Everest. Source: Supplied
They include Dean Higgins from Adelaide who died last October after he and wife Wendy were trapped under an avalanche for six hours during a trek. The 60-year-old dug them out but died from hypothermia as they walked to safety.
The worst tragedy was May 10-11, 1996, when a rogue storm killed eight people on an expedition led by famed New Zealand climber Rob Hall, who had led many successful ascents.
Knowing his frost-bitten hands and feet would make it impossible for him to use the ropes and reach safety, Mr Hall radioed base camp in his final moments and asked them to get his pregnant wife Jan Arnold on the satellite phone for a heart-breaking final call, telling her: “Sleep well my sweetheart. Please don’t worry too much.’’
The survivors included writer Jon Krakauer, whose account of the disaster became a best-selling book Into Thin Air. A television movie followed and a feature film, Everest, is due to be released next year.
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