Hilaree Nelson had revealed she wasn't 'sure-footed' on Himalayan mountain days before fatal 2000ft fall
MOUNT MANASLU, NEPAL: Renowned mountaineer Hilaree Nelson, whose body was found on Wednesday, September 28 after reportedly falling into a 2,000ft deep crevasse on Monday, had shared her fears just a few days ago. Before plunging down the summit of Manaslu in Nepal, the 49-year-old had taken to her Instagram and claimed that she did not feel “sure-footed”.
The social media post released via Nelson’s page read, “Back bent and head down. I haven’t felt as sure-footed on Manaslu as I have on past adventure into the thin atmosphere of the high Himalaya. These past weeks have tested my resilience in new ways. The constant monsoon with its incessant rain and humidity has made me hopelessly homesick."
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“I am challenged to find the peace and inspiration from the mountain when it’s been constantly shrouded in mist. Yesterday we ended our summit bid when we decided it was too dangerous to move from C3 to C4,” she wrote, before adding, “With @jimwmorrison we skied about 4500 ft of the 6000 ft descent to BC. It was full of shenanigans rappelling over seracs with our skis on, posing for pictures with climbers going uphill. Laughing, racing @namgye @ila_nuru @pemba_sharwa (they won of course) and generally just finally being present and actually seeing what I have been seeing for weeks but not absorbing (hope that makes sense).”
The post had left many people shocked as they hoped for a miracle. A user commented, “May you come safe home, Hillaree! Praying for a miracle ❤️.” Another user said, “May that good energy be with you now Hilaree. May the mountain cradle you. Still praying for a miracle.”
A third noted, “Sending so many prayers into the universe for your safe return home! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️” “Sending the most calm and steady presence a human has ever held. love from an earth sister. your strength is astounding,” the fourth one added. However, a search team retrieved the mountaineer's body from the Himalayas on Wednesday.
As per reports, Nelson was on the adventure with her partner Jim Morrison, who made it to the camp before requesting help. In her last post before the accident, she revealed that her “love for incredible places around the world was fostered first by the opportunity to get out and explore my own backyard.” The mother-of-two was sponsored by North Face for her venture, who in a statement said, “Hilaree Nelson, a professional ski mountaineer and Team Captain for The North Face, has gone missing below the summit of Mt. Manaslu in Nepal.” The outdoor adventure brand had also mentioned that they are “supporting search and rescue efforts in every way we can.”
Jiban Ghimire, managing director of Shangri-La Nepal Trek, also spoke after Nelson’s fall. The guiding company was reportedly working with her and Morrison on their expeditions. Ghimire told Outside, “The duo reached the true summit of Manaslu at 11.30 am local time. And about 15 minute later I got a call from our staff at Base Camp that her ski blade skidded off and [she] fell off the other side of the peak.”