원정 개요

High point at North Face sides of couloir

4 May to BC to rest: now snowfall kept him in BC till 16 May to C2. 17 May strong wind. 18 May avalanche. 18 May 5:00 am up to make C3 for summit bid 19 May. All 5 members up from C2 and from Merelli team (Mondinelli and Colli) plus Lock and 2 Americans (Mace and Cusik) at 8:30 am at wide shallow couloir at 6300m and avalanche of ice blocks, some of which were 3 meters wide, hit Blanc, Kuntner, Barmasse and Andres and carried them down 500m linear meters in ice and its blast (150 vertical meters down). Blanc side of his head hit and he went into speechless shock and no memory of avalanche; started speaking only night of 19th in Teaching Hospital and 2 broken ribs. Kuntner small head wound and internal injuries and died in C2 at 9:00 am, brought there by others who not injured; died at 10:00 am; Barmasse big cut from mouth to chin and broken nose; Andres left shoulder slightly dislocated. Helicopter came at 3:20 pm and evacuated all living members and Kuntner's body for burial at home. This was first avalanche here this month.