Nepal: Annapurna, Manaslu and fifteen dead on Himlung

A week of rain and snow has disrupted trekking around Annapurna, forced companies to cancel autumn climbs on Manaslu, and brought the death toll on Himlung Himal to fifteen. As of October 4, the southern trails are already accepting people, and upper Manang is almost at a standstill.

Annapurna. A new wave of landslides and flash floods has claimed about 30 lives in the country as a whole and damaged more than 240 houses. There were no fatalities among trekkers on the Manang route. Hundreds of people have interrupted their trek around Annapurna. Many have been evacuated by helicopter from Manang and Mustang. The road below Chame was washed away by the Marsyangdi River, and a landslide near Chame itself has backed up the river: a temporary lake has flooded houses and a bridge. 226 foreigners were registered in Upper Manang, 44 have already returned; more than 150 of those who were going to the Thorong La pass have also turned back. About 700 people were kept in Pokhara and were not allowed to trek around Annapurna. The beginning of this disruption is described in the news about the U-turn in Manang.

Himlung. An avalanche covered the base camp of Mount Himlung Himal (7126 m), when there were no foreign climbers there yet. 16 Nepalese workers who were preparing the route and camps were buried under the snow. By October 1, rescuers had recovered 15 bodies, one person is still missing. The first four bodies and the pause in the search are described separately.

Manaslu. Large expedition companies have closed the autumn season on Manaslu (8163 m). The team that hung the railing was on the summit on September 17, but the participants did not go above Camp III: the slope is covered with fresh snow, the risk of avalanches is high. There were no client ascents this season. About the deaths on the mountain at the beginning of the season - a separate news item.

What is the passage on October 4? Permits for the Annapurna and Manaslu zones will be issued again from October 2. According to the Saturday summary of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, 1,393 entries and 1,093 exits were registered at the points. Almost all of this movement was in the south: Birethanti received 694 people, Chhomrong - 388. In Manang itself, 12 were registered. The road to Chame is open, the Chame-Bhratang section is closed to cars, the trail there is open. The day before, seven people crossed the Thorong La pass. The Ghasa-Korala and Jomsom-Muktinath roads are two-way again. The Galeshwor-Dana section is still closed after the Kali Gandaki flood; road workers say about ten days of work. Trekking in the Manaslu zone with permits has resumed, but this does not return the ascent to the summit.