YEKATERINBURG, May 16 (Itar-Tass) - The body of a Russian mountain climber, who died while ascending Mount Everest, will soon be taken by a helicopter to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, the man’s relatives told Itar-Tass on Thursday.
Alexei Bolotov, 50, died during the ascent of Mount Everest along a new route on Tuesday. He fell into an abyss. The tragedy occurred at a height of more than 5,000 meters. Preliminary assessments say the accident was caused by a high degree of wear of the safety lanyard, which separated under the strain.
According to another Russian climber, Sergei Simakov, who knew Bolotov personally, the accident took place near the Khumbu Icefall, not far above Base Camp.
“Climbers Alexei Bolotov and Denis Urubko deviated from a main trekking route. We are very sorry about the climber’s death. His body will be taken to Yekaterinburg to be buried there,” Simakov said.
Bolotov and Urubko planned to plot a new route to Everest’s summit. They have thoroughly prepared for this expedition that was originally planned from March to June. Urubko is one of the world’s best climbers. He chose Alexei Bolotov from among other candidates to accompany him on his daring venture. The two men planned to attempt a difficult new route without supplemental oxygen, climbing alpine-style from the glacier above the Khumbu Icefall (where fixed ropes for the normal route on Everest’s south side make alpine-style climbing impossible).