An American mountaineer, Alexander Pancoe, died on Mount Makalu in eastern Nepal during a climb intended to raise funds for a children’s cancer program. The incident occurred on Sunday at the mountain’s second high camp, shortly after Pancoe returned from an acclimatization trip at a higher camp. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced unresponsive by the expedition organizer, Madison Mountaineering.
Pancoe, 39, had a background marked by resilience, having previously survived a brain tumor and completing the Explorer’s Grand Slam, which includes climbing the tallest peaks on each continent and skiing to both the North and South Poles. At the time of his death, he was battling chronic myeloid leukemia and had raised $1 million for the pediatric blood cancer program at the Chicago-based Lurie Children’s Hospital.
The Nepalese tourism department is coordinating the transfer of his body to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. His death marks the second fatality of the climbing season that commenced in March; earlier, a Nepali sherpa died on Mount Annapurna, the world’s 10th-highest mountain.
Nepal, situated between India and China, is home to eight of the world’s 14 tallest peaks, including Mount Everest. The country’s economy heavily relies on climbing, trekking, and tourism for foreign exchange. This tragic event underscores the inherent risks of high-altitude climbing and the challenges faced by climbers in the region.
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