Glen Plake survives killer Avalanche

Plake was swept over a cliff in his tent and survived.

http://www.planetski.eu/news/4204

Yikes.

23 September 2012, 11:43 am – The worst of phone calls came through a few minutes ago when Kimberly Plake called. “There’s been a massive avalanche at Camp 3. Glen’s OK but he told me, ‘Rémy and Greg are gone.’” Glen told Kimberly that he thought there were around 16 climbers in Camp 3 (6800m) and that he was in his tent reading his Bible when a massive avalanche ripped through the camp. Glen was rescued from a crevasse by Canadian skier Greg Hill’s team who were helping him down the mountain when he called.

Greg Hill reports on his Facebook page that his team are all OK.

Factual information is sketchy but police officials report that rescuers have recovered the bodies of a German guide and Nepalese guide and that seven other bodies have been spotted. Early reports indicate around 13 are believed to be missing. Other reports indicate that between five to eight injured climbers had been evacuated by helicopter to Katmandu before rescue efforts were called off due to bad weather.

http://daily.epictv.com/blog/2012/09/23/avalanche-on-manaslu-plake-alive-remy-and-greg-missing/

And this:

http://unofficialnetworks.com/update-11-climbers-dead-missing-15-injured-manaslu-avalanche-107383/

Oh my god.

"Glen Plake lives in Chamonix France"

Wow, something happened in this guy's life recently. He went from American ski town TV clown and jester to international mountain climber, and almost dies in the process. I saw the interview with him and his team before they departed for Nepal, and, of course, Plake was his usual smiling and never may care self. I hope he is interviewed soon after he heals and collects his thoughts.

My prayers for all who were killed or hurt. A very dangerous game.

Plake and his wife have been traveling the country and world promoting skiing and their sponsored brands primarily Elan and Dalbello.

They have taken the time and effort to go thru the PSIA certification process over the past few years and are now Level 3 certified.  From an instructors viewpoint its cool that they have seen value in doing that.

glad to hear he's safe and prayers to those and their families who are still missing, injured and dead.

plakes been doing some serious ski mountaineering for quite a few years now. we got to see him speak about some of it during a screeening of edge of never a few years back (great read and movie btw). it was fascinating seeing him shift from the persona benny and most are familiar with to that of dealing with the loss of a friend and the risk and stakes of big mountain skiing/mountaineering

Can't even imagine sleeping in a place thats so exposed that an avi transceiver is required...

He was in Keene for last years Ski Fest

serious ski mountaineering will eventually kill you. the odds are not in your favor. you can not control this very dangerous environment.

here is a much more in depth account of what happened and why

http://www.greghill.ca/pages/disaster-strikes-on-manaslu/

What is freaking about this is that Greg Costa was in the same tent as Plake.  He was using Plake's jacket as a pillow. Plake found his jacket, but Greg was missing.

Maybe I misunderstood?

Glen Plake interviewed with Anderson Cooper on CNN. Watch this when you have some time to absorb and reflect on the loss and heartbreak Plake and others are feeling:

Part 1 (4 minutes):
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/09/27/ac-avalanche-survivor-horror.cnn

Part 2 (8 minutes):
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/09/27/ac-avalanche-survivor-missing-comrads.cnn

yea saw that last night...just incredible

another account that illustrates the emotions of the situation so well... i really just can't imagine
http://www.greghill.ca/pages/disaster-strikes-on-manaslu/

Over the years I'm grown numb to these stories.  Actually, beginning to find them boring.  Man takes on mountain.  Mountain wins..   Yep...

^^^ Thanks for chiming in there, Mr. Sensitive. You apparently chose the right avatar and have all the emotional response of a bird: "oh, the hawk/fox/dog/car just killed my fellow bird. Hey, look, a worm!"

Kinda with you there Scotty.  I used to love to armchair mountaineer; my bookshelves are loaded with various accounts of expeditions gone awry.  I dunno - that stuff doesn't hold the same fascination for me anymore.  One story just sort of blends into the other.  Yeah, there's a lot of heroics and I don't take anything away from what these guys did and are doing at altitude but their stories don't captivate me in the same way.

Kinda like ski porn; if I never see another "Big Mountain Skier" ripping an exposed, gnarly line on some remote Alaskan peak it'll be too soon.  Plus, I'm beginning to wonder whether that industry isn't pushing too many young kids, with more skills than brains, into ever more dangerous situations.  Too many cameras and not enough thinking about the consequences.  

Just shut up and ski.

Sick Bird Rider wrote

^^^ Thanks for chiming in there, Mr. Sensitive. You apparently chose the right avatar and have all the emotional response of a bird: "oh, the hawk/fox/dog/car just killed my fellow bird. Hey, look, a worm!"

I laughed

Noah John wrote

   Plus, I'm beginning to wonder whether that industry isn't pushing too many young kids, with more skills than brains, into ever more dangerous situations.  Too many cameras and not enough thinking about the consequences.  

Just shut up and ski.

I read a great article on this exact subject a few weeks ago, wish I could remember where I saw it. Showed a different side of the industry that i had never thought aboout.

campgottagopee wrote

I laughed

Hey look, simple simon laughed!  

ScottyJack wrote

campgottagopee wrote

I laughed

Hey look, simple simon laughed!  

Don't be bitter cause SBR gotcha...that was some funny