Nepalian Avalanche

                I was reading an article on CNN about an avalanche that hit in Nepal. I heard about the story earlier on the radio and was intrigued to learn more about it. Apparently, the avalanche happened on Manaslu Mountain in Kathmandu, Nepal. As of now, there are eight people confirmed dead but a good possibility that eleven people were killed. The search for the three hikers was suspended this morning.

                The article tells the stories of a few of the survivors and the experience seems like it would be terrifying and absolutely freezing. Arnaud Manel, one of the survivors, said that the avalanche snow started falling on his tent and he managed to get out, only to roll for an estimated 655 feet down the mountain in the snow and figure out he was wearing a t-shirt.

In the video above the article, the man stated that the group had avalanche transceivers on which I assume send out a signal so that people can find you if you are under the snow. What I don’t understand is why they weren’t working and why he wasn’t able to locate the other people that had them on.

Another question that occurred to me was why these people did not get severe frost bite or anything from only having a t-shirt on and going barefoot in the snow. A man that rolled down the mountain in his sleeping bag only lost a few front teeth and suffered an eye injury; the article didn’t even mention a cold-related injury.

I guess though that even though there were possibly 11 deaths, there were still twelve climbers that were only injured after their encounter with the avalanche. If I were them though, or anyone planning to climb up that or another mountain, I would definitely be having second thoughts. (303)