Yoshinobu Kato, Japanese Summiter of 8 of the World’s 8,000 Meter Peaks, Killed In Avalanche On Kula Kangri

Yoshinobu Kato, one of Japan’s strongest (and most famous) climbers, has been killed following an avalanche on the 7,538 meter Kula Kangri.  Kato, who is famous for climbing 8 of the world’s 8,000 meter peaks (including Everest twice) was tragically swept down the side of Tibet’s Kula Kangri peak along with his two japanese climbing partners.

Kula Kangri in Tibet is the highest peak in the Luozha county. Xinhua reports that the Tibetan mountaineering association confirmed that the three Japanese mountaineers were found dead after an avalanche struck at 6.50 pm local time yesterday.The climbers were headed from camp 1 at 5900 meters when the slide came. Fellow team mates reportedly found the bodies some 300 meters away from the camp, according to the source.

 

 

This information is coming from a special report about the accident being featured on MountEverest.net.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all three of the climber’s families, friends, and associates.  Yoshinobu Kato is definitely another big loss to the world of mountaineering.

Kula Kangri was first summited in 1985 by a team of Japanese climbers.