Where to Ski And Snowboard - Pioneering freeskier Glen Plake alive after Himalayas avalanche

Pioneering freeskier Glen Plake alive after Himalayas avalanche

23rd September 2012, by Abi Butcher

Legendary freeskier Glen Plake has been confirmed alive after being caught in an avalanche in the Himalayas this morning (Sunday).

Glen, 48, was among the climbers, mountaineers and freeskiers caught in the slide on Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth highest mountain.

The avalanche hit two camps on the mountain at around 4am local time this morning — 11.15pm on Saturday, UK time. French, German, Spanish and Nepalese climbers are among at least 10 people now confirmed dead.

Plake and two Chamonix-based ski mountaineers Rémy Lécluse and Greg Costa, have been in Nepal attempting to be the first to ski Mount Manaslu without oxygen.

Plake spoke to adventure sports TV channel EpicTV this morning, saying: “It was a major, major accident”.

While Plake is confirmed alive, Lécluse and Costa are still missing.

“There are up to 14 people missing,” said Glen Plake, pioneering freeskier and filmmaker — who was earlier this month nominated for a World Ski Award.

“There were 25 tents at Camp 3 [6,800m] and all of them were destroyed. Twelve tents at Camp 2 [6,300m] were banged up and moved around. Greg [Costa] and I were in a tent together, Rémy was in another. Greg, Rémy and his tent are nowhere to be found.”

The team have been on Manaslu for several weeks, acclimatising to conditions. They hoped to reach the 8,156m (26,759ft) summit this weekend.

Canadian skier Greg Hill and US freeskier Eric Hjorleifson were also on the mountain to attempt the oxygen-free ski. Hill, who also survived, described the aftermath of this morning’s avalanche as a “war zone”.