Avalanche

Most mountaineers measure their ascents in meters. For skier-climber Greg Hill of Revelstoke, BC, however, its kilometers. In 2010,Hill logged an astounding 608 vertical kilometers. But on a recent trip to Nepal, he did something he’s never done before – Hill left a mountain peak unconquered.

“An avalanche is very similar to a wave on a beach… it’s this big vertical wall of snow which kind of sweeps down the mountain,” says Hill. “Something you never want to be below or above.”

On September 23, at 4:45 AM, Hill, camped part way up the mountain he was climbing, woke up to desperate voices and a ruined campsite. A deadly avalanche had ripped down the slopes of Manaslu, the eighth highest peak in the world. He was safe. But the slide wiped out a nearby camp of climbers.

It was the entire tents, 14 tents that we had seen the night before were gone somewhere in the debris,” says Hill. “Our very first thought was well we should go save them.”

Hill and his team went to work right away, handing out warm drinks and digging through snow.

“The one guy Ralph that we started digging out right away,” says Hill. “He had some broken ribs and kind of a dislocated arm.”

Eight bodies were recovered from the snow. One is still missing. But the quick thinking and bravery of Hill and his team saved several lives.

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