The body of one of two missing climbers on Mount Everest was found on Friday morning after a days-long search.
Usukhjargal Tsedendamba (53) and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav (31) were last in contact on Sunday evening from Camp 4, which is located less than a kilometer (3,300 feet) below the summit. Tsedendamba’s body was found at an altitude of nearly 8,600 meters (28,215 feet) after the previous days’ search and rescue operations were hampered by bad weather.
Lakpa Sherpa of 8K Expeditions, who arranged the climbing duo’s climbing permits, says he appears to have returned from the summit.
“Searches continue for the other climber.”
According to Lakpa Sherpa, the men climbed without guides and their two-way radio was found in their tent. Nepal’s tourism department said in a statement on Tuesday that another team saw the two “on their way to Everest’s summit” on Monday morning.
Hundreds of climbers flock to Nepal – home to one of eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks – in the spring, when temperatures are warmer and the wind is usually calm.
Nepal has issued more than 900 permits for climbers this year, including 419 for Everest, which brings the country an income of around $5 million (R91 million). Around 80 climbers have already reached the 8,849 meter (29,032 feet) high summit of Everest after a lead team reached the summit last month.
Two climbers have already died this year on Makalu, the world’s fifth highest peak.
The French climber Johnny Saliba (60) died on Sunday at a height of 8,120 meters (26,640 feet) on his way to the summit. A 53-year-old Nepali guide died on the same peak last week while on his way down from the summit.
