Nirmal Purja Missing in Broad Peak Avalanche

Nirmal Purja, the record-setting Himalayan climber known for both achievements and controversies, remains missing after an avalanche hit his group of 10 mountaineers on Broad Peak (8,047m) at 9:30 local time Thursday. Authorities in Pakistan have recovered four bodies in the lower area of the mountain, though only two have been identified. truewildgame.com

The identified victims are Nadhira Al Harthy from Oman, an accomplished 8,000-meter peak climber with summits on Everest, K2, and Nanga Parbat, and Pur Bahadur Gurung, a Nepalese high mountain guide who worked for Purja's Elite Exped company. The avalanche surprised the group of guides and clients at approximately 6,600 meters altitude, shortly after they had passed the mountain's lower section, described as very direct and vertical.