Famous Everest Sherpa Missing After Avalanche

A renowned sherpa who has scaled Mt. Everest 19 times was likely killed in an avalanche as he neared the peak of Mt. Baruntse in eastern Nepal. Chhewang Nima was leading an expedition of seven climbers when the avalanche struck as he was fixing ropes near the top of the 7,000 meter peak. The other climbers dug through the snow but were unable to locate him, reports the Independent. A rescue helicopter is searching today for any signs of the climber. Officials held out a small hope that Nima might have lived through the avalanche. "He knows how to survive," said a trek company spokesman. The only sherpa who has scaled Mt. Everest more times than Nima is Apa Sherpa, who set a record of 20 climbs this year.
(More Chhewang Nima stories.)