US climber Anna Gutu declared dead after Shishapangma avalanche, others missing

Tragedy struck at Shishapangma after the American-Ukrainian climber Anna Gutu died after she was swept by an avalanche on her ascend. Gutu was making her way up the main climbing route (8,027 meters) alongside her guide Mingmar Sherpa.

Image Credit: Instagram @anyatraveler

Gutu, 32, and her Nepalese guide, Mingmar Sherpa, were missing after the event and on Sunday were confirmed to be deceased after their bodies were pulled from the snow. Gina Marie, another American climber was on the mountain during the time of the avalanche. Marie and her guide Tenjen Sherpa remain missing but are presumed to be dead, according to the Daily Mail.

Gutu and Marie were two climbers with plenty of advanced mountain climbing experience. They were both on a mission to become the first female American mountaineers to crown the 14 eight thousand. Gutu, in particular, had a dedicated online following.

The 14 eight thousand is an exclusive mountain club reserved for only the tallest mountains on earth. Only the most experienced climbers dare to face such a challenge as each ascend surpasses 8000m (26,000 ft).

The 14 tallest mountains: Everest 8,848m (29,000 ft), K2 8,611m (28,250 ft), Kanchenjunga 8,586m (28169 ft), Lhotse 8,586m (27,940 ft), Makalu 8,463m (27,766 ft), Cho Oyu 8,201m (26,900ft), Dhaulagiri 8,167m (26,795ft), Manaslu 8,163m (26,781 ft), Nanga Parbat 8,125m (26,660 ft), Annapurna 8,091m (26,545ft), Gasherbrum 8,068m (26,469 ft), Broad Peak 8,047m (26,400), Gasherbrum II 8,035m (26,362 ft), Shisha Pangma 8,012m (26,285 ft)

Gutu and Marie were both missing the Shishapangma after completing the other 13 peaks. A lifelong project that has ended in absolute tragedy.

According to the rescue device, Gutu was swept up by an avalanche around the 7,800-meter level (25,590 ft).

A team led by Mingma G of Imagine Nepal Treks and other volunteer mountaineers set out on a search for the bodies of the climbers, recovering Anna Gutu and Mingmar Sherpa late on Sunday. Their search is ongoing for the other climbers.

The rescue team ventured out to find the two climbers even though the conditions were not the most suitable due to the bad weather a bad visibility. The team trekked lightly as there was a possibility of experiencing another avalanche.

In addition to the deaths and dissapearences, three other Nepalese Sherpas were injured of varying severity.

Anna Gutu, a native of Odessa (Ukraine), but a US citizen was regarded as one of the most talented female climbers in the world. She conquered Cho Oyu just five days prior to the Shishapangma. Gutu and Marie teamed up to tackle their last objective together.

Image source: Instagram @anyatraveler

Christopher Bernard Warner and Ed Viestrus are the only two American climbers to have climbed the 14 'roofs' on the planet, and less than 50 worldwide.