File image of the missing climbers courtesy of Revenir du Nepal.
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Paldor Peak missing climbers update: Tent found in avalanche-swept zone
Posted: Nov 20, 2006 11:47 am EST
(MountEverest.net) Bad news has been released on the four French climbers missing on Paldor Peak (Ganesh Himal, Nepal) since October 12.
Last Friday, November 17, a rescue team found a tent and some gear in a base camp located on the northern face of Paldor peak. In the tent, rescuers found a "log book" indicating that the missing French climbers had set off on a summit bid via the north face on October 24.
Tent in zone swept by a massive avalanche
Today, the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs reports that the rescuers have found a second tent at 5,500 m pitched in a zone “which had been swept by a massive avalanche.”
Thus, all hope is virtually lost to find Stéfan Cieslar, Jean-Baptiste Moreau, Raphael Perrissin and Vincent Villedieu alive. Nevertheless, the rescue team will continue searching the area as soon as weather conditions (currently very bad) improve.
French association Revenir du Nepal has set up a blog to provide updated news and collect donations to fund the rescue works (check links section).
French climbers Stefan Cieslar, Jean-Baptiste Moreau, Raphael Perrissin and Vincent Villieu are missing on Paldor peak. They last reported from BC on October 12, right before setting off on a summit bid. An alert was raised when the Paldor climbers failed to show up in Kathmandu on November 5.
Located in Ganesh Himal range, the 5.896 meters Paldor peak provides a straightforward climb, according to local trekking agencies. Paldor was first climbed by Bill Tilman in 1949. The normal route follows the NE ridge; however, options are also available for those whishing a more difficult climb, such as the SW ridge, notes Kairn.com.
A team of 17 rescuers was sent to the area by Nepal Mountaineering Association and the French embassy in Nepal chartered a helicopter to assist in the search.
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