Flashback 1990: 40 Climbers Killed After Avalanche On Lenin Peak, Worst Confirmed Climbing Accident In History
August 6, 2008
The recent tragedy on K2 is being represented as one of the worst mountaineering accidents in history. In some places it is being referred to as ‘the’ worst mountaineering accident in history. There has been a lively discussion going on here at The Adventurist about how this accident compares to some of the larger accidents in history.
Over the course of 18 years many individuals and media outlets have forgotten about the most deadly mountain climbing accident in history. In 1990, 40 soviet climbers died after being buried in an avalanche in the Pamir Mountains. This accident is confirmed through a piece found in the New York Times dated July 18, 1990.
A team of 140 International climbers were attempting to summit Lenin Peak in the remote Pamir Mountains of the Soviet Union. The team had made camp in an area known as the Frying Pan, a well-known ledge used as a place of rest for teams before beginning their summit assault. When the avalanche occurred, sweeping in to the Frying Pan, all 140 climbers were thought to be present. Many of them ran and were able to get out of the way. Forty were not so lucky.
This same New York Times article elaborates a bit on this incident and actually compares it to another accident taking place in 1952, this time on Mt. Everest, and once again involving a Russian team of climbers. In the supposed incident, a Russian team of climbers raced to Mt. Everest in hopes of becoming the first person to summit the world’s highest peak. They were trying to beat out a British Expedition that were making plans for an Everest push in 1953. We all know now that the famed British Expedition made it to the top with Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay capturing the prized summit. A group of 40 Russians were buried in another avalanche.
This second incident has actually been the subject of much debate. Russia has never confirmed that the accident on Mt. Everest took place. Likewise, no trace of this expedition has ever been found. It could have very well been a secret mission to try to beat the British at a big accomplishment. The mighty and proud Russians, upon failing in defeat, may have tried to hide this incident for sake of embarrassment to their mighty nation. It is not known and it is not proven.
The recent tragedy on K2 will go down as one of the worst climbing accidents in history. It may not be the worst, as some have claimed, but it will definitely merit a mention in the annals of mountaineering history. As fingers begin to point and climbers begin to speak out, let’s remember that there are always two sides to every tragedy -and neither one of those may be right. We may never know what happened on K2, but 11 climbers lost their life on a mountain known for taking souls. May they rest in the peace of the mountains and look over those who follow.
From The Adventurist Vault:
Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under recent K2 tragedy |
Jason,
I am writing a memorium for Jumik Bhote, who died on K2 as the lead sherpa for the Korean team. Is there any chance that we can publish this on The Adventurist. One of the things that troubles me most is that in the west we remember western climbers who die by name but the sherpas only by “sherpa” as if they were pack animals rather than human beings with family and friends.
Judy
Dear Jason,
Unfortunatly the information is not accurate. They were 42 who perished and only 3 survived since they camped further away from the avalanch zone. Nobody ran away since they were sleeping (it was 9:30pm). I took part in the search expedition to ry and recover their bodies. They were found only last week 18 years later.
Best regards,
Alon Newton