It’s been an emotional and exhausting last few days. Lapka and Anjkaji spent most of yesterday on the rescue team looking for survivors or bodies. Unfortunately no one was recovered. The mountain is not safe this season. It’s received too much snow, and even though it’s unlikely for history to repeat itself during a single season, this mountain is just not meant to be climbed this year.
After much thought and debate through the emotion that can cloud such a decision, the team have decided to pack up and head home. As climbers, you have to question your reasons for climbing sometimes. Avalanches are a reality of climbing as is death in extreme cases.
The reward of a summit this season on Manaslu does not outweigh the losses from the recent event, further risk to our climbers who now may be struggling to find mental commitment to the climb, and the less than optimal conditions presently on the mountain. Today the mountain will be stripped of our remaining gear from the higher camps.
Tomorrow we walk back to Samagoan, leaving behind our fallen fellow climbers to rest in peace.