Sherpa Future Fund and Account of the April 25 Everest Avalanche

On April 25, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, devastating communities, families and towns across the country.

The quake triggered an avalanche on Mt. Everest, sending down a massive wall of ice, rock and snow onto south base camp, nearly 3,000-feet below. Nineteen climbers were killed in the event—six from the New Zealand expedition company Adventure Consultants (AC).

Anthea Fisher, base camp manager for AC, was there when the avalanche struck. This is her account:

“So hard to put the experience into words, and still trying to process everything that happened.

“Where does one begin to describe the events of April 25th? Looking up and seeing the massive wall of snow and ice coming towards our camp was horrifying and terrifying—realizing that your shelter is limited to tents and terrain features.

“The avalanche hit with such force and the air, suffocating, filled with snow, ice and rocks. After the avalanche passed I was left gasping for air, gasping for life, happy to be alive.

“I knew immediately that not everyone would have fared so well. Base camp had been completely obliterated. Not five meters from me lay our first casualty. He had died instantly. It was like stepping into a war zone.

“The extent of the injuries that our Sherpa suffered were horrific. And yet, there was so little we could do without being able to locate our medical supplies. Our medical tent, like everything else, was blown away. It was impossible to find anything.

“It wasn’t too long before a call came over the radio from one of the other teams further down camp, the offer of assistance, welcome solace in the midst of the chaos that surrounded me.

“The teams that still had facilities quickly organized themselves and those with medical skills in setting up a makeshift hospital.

“Everyone did what they could to help, and everyone just appeared to get on with the tasks at hand, whether it was carrying the wounded, caring for the injured, caring for those caring for the injured, and providing a home to the “Base Camp refugees” that we had become.

“The community that came together was incredible. But the devastation and tragic loss of our beautiful Sherpa friends is beyond words.

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These six AC Nepali staff lost their lives in the avalanche and others were injured. If you would like to contribute to the support of these victims and their families please consider contributing to the Adventure Consultants Sherpa Future Fund.

Adventure Consultants Sherpa Future Fund

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