Update on Makalu

Yesterday I posted about Jean Christophe Lafaille, the climber who was attempting a solo winter summit of Makalu, but had been missing since last Thursday. MountEverest.net has posted an update on the situation.

In a nutshell, a helicopter reached basecamp yesterday, but found only three sherpas who had not heard from Lafaille since last Tuesday when he set off to make his solo climb. The helicopter then proceeded up the slopes where they were able to spot Lafaille's tent still in place at his last campsite.

What does this mean? Well, it's likely that Lafaille set off for this summit attempt as planned, and disappeared in that attempt. The Team has all but given up hope, and with the extreme conditions on the mountain, a rescue attempt is unlikely. We'll probably have no chance of knowing what happened to him until the Spring climbing season, but it's quite possible that it could take years to find him, if he is even found at all.

Lafaille's wife Katia is said to be on her way to Nepal to "Say Goodbye".