9 climbers dead, 6 missing in Nepal avalanche

In this Oct. 18, 2011 file photo prayer flags fly at the Manaslu base camp, part of the Great Himalaya Trail route, in Nepal. / AP/SNV Nepal, Great Himalaya Trail Development Programme, Samir Thapa

(AP) KATMANDU, Nepal - An avalanche swept away climbers on a Himalayan peak in Nepal today, leaving at least nine dead and six others missing.

A police official says the bodies of a Nepalese guide and German man were recovered and that rescue pilots have spotted seven other bodies on the slopes of Mount Manaslu in northern Nepal. The mountain is the eighth highest in the world.

Officials say 10 other members of the team survived the avalanche but many were injured.

Weather conditions were deteriorating and it was not possible to continue air searches of the mountain on today.

The identities of the victims were still being confirmed.

The avalanche hit the climbers at a camp at 22,960 feet as they were preparing to head toward the summit, which is 26,760 feet high.

It is currently the beginning of Nepal's autumn mountaineering season

[Jonathan5761]

Get a life you guys. Let people live the way they want, and die the way they want.

[john92021]

it will be interesting to find out if any women were among the climbers. There seems to be some male bashing here by women that probably had their male providers let them down and are unable to acknowledge that there are others that are not part of the human breeder persuasion.

[cookiemonstersmom]

I have absolutely no sympathy for these idiots. Now their names will be added to the list of countless other climbers who have died on mountains in Nepal and Tibet and on other mountains just because they had to take that last egocentric risk, losing everything and taking away everything from their children and loved ones. For a brief moment they will be remembered, mostly by their families, and then, other climbers will step over the frozen bodies, thinking that they too are immune to nature's folly.

[john92021]

if there was no risk of death there would be no rush. Better to die this way than commuting to work. Just do not be the kind that expects others to risk their lives to save your butt if you get in trouble.

[sjtom]

At least they died doing what they loved. Not many of us can say that.

[jackpenn]

Nobody I know, including myself wants to die young, or doing anything I love doing. I love my wife, but I wouldn't want to die making love to her.

[snoWYmonkey]

Sitting in an armchair, gorging on food while slowly becoming part of the majority of overweight and obese americans who essentially doom their children into becoming their lifelong caregivers, now that is a waste!

[Releor400]

All I can say is I hope they didnt have little ones to feed. If they did I hope they had good life insurance. Even then how do you explain to a child their parent chose this path over raising them. What a waste.