Hundreds of crowded climbers have been captured on camera slowly ascending the summit of Everest, near where a British climber and his guide went missing on Tuesday after being struck by collapsing ice.
Experts fear overcrowding on the world’s highest mountain may have played a role in the collapse of a cornice – an overhanging mass of hardened snow at the edge of a precipice – that led to the disappearance of Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, and Pastenji Sherpa , 23.
The pair have not been heard from since they reached the summit around 4.40am local time on Tuesday and are feared dead.
Mr Paterson and his guide ran into trouble after the ice collapsed and fell on them near the Hillary Step, just below the summit at about 8,800 metres, Lapka Sherpa said.
The Everest guide said they “heroically” reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain before going missing during the descent.
Hundreds of overcrowded climbers are seen slowly ascending the summit of Everest, near where British climber Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, and his guide went missing on Tuesday.
Experts fear overcrowding on the world’s highest mountain may have played a role in the collapse of a cornice – an overhanging mass of hardened snow at the edge of a precipice – that led to the disappearance of Mr Paterson and his guide, Pastenji Sherpa , 23
Climbers photographed near the Hillary Step, just below the summit at about 8,800 meters altitude, where the ice collapsed on Tuesday
One expert revealed that four others “almost died” in the ice collapse on Tuesday. Pictured: Lines of climbers, just inches apart, make their way to the top
Images show the line of climbers waiting to scale the mountain serpents all the way to base camp
Missing Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, is pictured on May 11 ahead of his climb to the summit
Videos and photos posted by fellow climbers in recent days show what appears to be hundreds of climbers crowding the Hillary Step, while an expert revealed that four others “almost died” in the ice collapse on Tuesday. Yahoo! News reports.
Vinayak Malla, an accredited guide with the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, said: ‘After the summit we crossed the Hillary Step, the traffic was moving slowly and suddenly a cornice collapsed a few meters in front of us.
‘When the cornice collapsed, four climbers almost lost their lives, but were clipped onto the rope and saved themselves.
‘Unfortunately, two climbers are still missing. We tried to drive through, but it was impossible because of the landline traffic.”
Meanwhile, a member of a team at the Everest base camp said The times: ‘A cornice broke off and washed some climbers, including Daniel and his guide, towards the Tibetan side.’
Overcrowding on Everest has become an increasing concern for experts and officials in recent years.
In 2019, 11 people died during the climbing season between March and May, prompting Kul Bahadur Gurung, general secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, to say that “there were more people on Everest than there should be.”
As Paterson’s disappearance enters its fourth day, his partner Beck Woodhead has promised she will do ‘whatever it takes’ to bring him home. GoFundMe page to raise £150,000 for a search and rescue operation.
So far the page has raised £107,000.
Daniel Paterson previously said it had always been his dream to ‘conquer’ the summit of Everest. Right in the photo: Pas Tenji Sherpa, 23
The fitness enthusiast dedicated his climb to a late friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club and recently announced that the group had raised £10,000 for her family
The research nurse said that her partner ‘is known for his adventurous spirit, his kindness and his unwavering dedication to helping others,” as she issued a plea, saying, “Now it’s our turn to help him.”
She described him as a passionate Leeds United fan, but also as a ‘beloved son, brother, partner, friend and a proud co-owner of Wakefield Crossfit.’
The British climber, believed to be from Wakefield, was described by Sherpa Lapka as ‘renowned for his robust fitness, uplifting positivity and strong determination’.
The missing men were part of a 15-person team with 8K Expeditions, led by Bolivian climber David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe.
Sherpa Lapka said his colleague Pastenji was a “dedicated climber from his youth, with impressive climbs to his credit, including twice Mount Everest, K2, Amadablam and several other 6,000-metre peaks.”
“His warm spirit, friendliness and outstanding expertise made him one of the best guides at 8K Expeditions,” he added.
Mr Paterson, known to his friends as ‘Pat’, was also a ‘dedicated’ climber and had trained in the Himalayas last year.
He previously said he was emotional when he saw the summit of Everest and told his followers: “My dream will always be to conquer it.”
He dedicated his climb to a late friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club and recently announced that members had raised £10,000 for her family.
Home to eight of the world’s fourteen peaks above 8,000 meters (26,246 feet), Nepal welcomes hundreds of adventurers every spring climbing season.
Everest can only be climbed in the short windows of clear weather when the winds are calm.
This has led to long queues on challenging routes, forcing climbers to wait in freezing temperatures and depleting their valuable oxygen supplies.
Earlier this month, Mongolian climbers Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 53, and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 31, went missing on Everest.
The pair, who had not relied on Sherpa guides, were found dead a week later in two different locations after reaching the summit.