MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Tributes pour in after mountaineer Hilaree Nelson's body is retrieved from 2,000-foot-deep crevasse

'The search team that left this morning on a helicopter spotted her body and is bringing her back,' Jiban Ghimire of Shangri-La Nepal Trek said

MOUNT MANASLU, NEPAL: The body of prominent mountaineer Hilaree Nelson, has been found after she fell into a 2,000ft deep crevasse on Monday, September 26. The 49-year-old was skiing down the slopes of Nepal's Manaslu peak, which is the world’s eighth-highest, with her partner Jim Morrison when she plunged into the crevasse and disappeared.

She is survived by her two teen sons Quinn and Graydon in Telluride, Colorado.

Jiban Ghimire, managing director of Shangri-La Nepal Trek that worked with her and Morrison, said as reported by The Daily Mail, “The search team that left this morning on a helicopter spotted her body and is bringing her back.” He also stated that the body will be taken to Kathmandu from the peak's base camp.

ALSO READ

Six climbers plunge 13,000 feet to their deaths while ascending notorious volcano as others remain trapped

Black climbers to scale Everest to tackle peak's 'intentional lack of access for black people'

This comes a few days after Nelson had taken to Instagram to share her experience and fear during the expedition. In the lengthy post, she had written, “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. I am challenged to find the peace and inspiration from the mountain when it’s been constantly shrouded in mist.”

She continued, “Yesterday we ended our summit bid when we decided it was too dangerous to move from C3 to C4. We subsequently decided to ski down from C3 knowing that would mean carrying our skis all the way back up the mountain again if, big if here, we try again for a summit. It was the best thing we could’ve done.”

“As soon as I made the first turn in the sticky hot pow, in a total white out, all the weight and seriousness that had been plaguing me this whole trip faded to the background. 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). We got back to BC soaking wet, in the pouring rain, just in time for a hearty BC dinner. Smiling and laughing felt amazing!” Nelson added.

On her social media share, several people wished her well and prayed for her safe return. A user commented, “You are the strongest most capable woman I’ve ever known. Fight now. Come home.” Another one wrote, “May that good energy be with you now Hilaree. May the mountain cradle you. Still praying for a miracle.” “Sending the most calm and steady presence a human has ever held. love from an earth sister. your strength is astounding,” the third one added.

But as the news of Nelson’s death surfaced, people were left heartbroken. One person tweeted, “It’s truly a necessity to have a passion as a compass in life.’ Hilaree Nelson R.I.P.” Another person noted, “The worst news regarding our colleague Hilaree Nelson is confirmed... The American mountaineer and skier has been rescued lifeless from Manaslu... 😔 We lose someone very big 🙌 : Goodbye Hilaree ❤️ , rest in peace 🙏”

A tweet read, “We have lost a Giant of the Sky World! She had uneasy feelings this week. That driving force may have over whelmed her. The mountain said no once. She said it was trying and difficult. Something was up for sure!!” “R.I.P Hilaree Nelson The NorthFace athlete, skier and mountaineer, died on ski descent from Manaslu. Thoughts and prayers with her kids #RIPHilareeNelson,” another tweet stated.