Spring 2026: Altitude Death on Makalu II, Avalanche Kills American Climber
| Event date | Early May 2026 (Makalu II); 10–11 May 2026 (Makalu) |
|---|---|
| Location | Makalu II Camp III (~7,300 m); Makalu just below Camp 3 (~7,000–7,200 m) |
| Type | Climbing accident; avalanche; rescue and evacuation |
| Deaths | 2 (David Roubínek; Shelley Johannesen) |
| Injured | 2 (David Ashley; Tawa Sherpa), airlifted to Kathmandu |
| Verification | Verified (dates for Roubínek differ by source) |
| Status | Historical / closed |
Two climbers died in the Makalu massif in spring 2026. Czech climber David Roubínek (38), attempting Makalu II alpine-style without guide support, developed high-altitude pulmonary oedema at Camp III and died at about 7,300 metres in early May. Sources give different dates, between 4 and 10 May.
On Makalu itself, American climber Shelley Johannesen, co-founder of the US outfitter Dash Adventures, reached the summit at 10:30 a.m. on 9 May. On 10 May, descending just below Camp 3, she was hit by an avalanche together with her climbing partner David Ashley and Tawa Sherpa. A third team member, Phurba Sonam Sherpa, went down through bad weather to Camp 2 to raise the alarm. Rescuers reached Johannesen at about 3 a.m. on 11 May with oxygen and warm drinks, but she died about an hour later, which her team attributed to hypothermia. Ashley and Tawa Sherpa were flown to hospital in Kathmandu. Reports of her age differ (53 per AFP, 59 in another tally).
Sources
- Explorersweb — "American Woman Dies in Avalanche on Makalu, Three Injured"
- CBS News — "American climber dies in avalanche on Nepal's Mount Makalu"
- Al Arabiya / AFP — "Climber dies in avalanche on Nepal's Mount Makalu" (12 May 2026)
- Alan Arnette — Everest 2026 season summary (other 8,000ers section)
- The Himalayan Times — "Death toll reaches 5 on Everest, Makalu massif"
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Written in Merolog’s own words from the sources listed; where sources disagree, each figure is attributed rather than merged. Spotted an error or a newer figure? Leave a comment on this entry.