Two Kenyan mountaineers are preparing to summit the famed Mt Manaslu in Nepal, even as the mountain records more deaths following a deadly avalanche earlier this week.
Swabra Swaleh Breik and Daniel Moenga are among hundreds of climbers from across the world attempting to conquer the 8,163-metre (26,781-foot) peak during Nepal’s Autumn 2026 climbing season.
Mt Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest mountain, is located in Nepal’s Gorkha District within the Manaslu Himal range. Its name is derived from the Sanskrit word manasa, meaning mountain of the spirit.
Breik and Moenga have already completed their acclimatisation rotation and are now preparing for their final push to the summit.
However, heavy snowfall has temporarily halted summit attempts, forcing climbers to wait for favourable weather conditions before making their ascent.
The pair are expected to become the latest Kenyans to summit Manaslu after the late Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui climbed the mountain in 2023.
Kirui and four other mountaineers began their expedition in Kathmandu before trekking towards Dharapani. Their acclimatisation rotations took them to increasingly higher camps, despite Kirui developing symptoms of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).
Despite the health challenges, Kirui reached the summit on September 24 without supplemental oxygen or Sherpa assistance.
He died in May 2024 after summiting Mt Everest without supplemental oxygen, becoming the first African to achieve the feat.
The latest Kenyan expedition comes days after an avalanche struck Camp III on Manaslu, burying a tent and killing Indian-German climber Dhruba Jyoti Guha and Sherpa guide Fursemba Sherpa from Makalu.
According to officials, the two had left Camp II on the evening of September 19 as they attempted an early summit push. Rescuers arrived at Camp III the following day and discovered their bodies.
The deaths have brought the number of fatalities recorded on Manaslu this season to four.
Nepali porter Tashi Sherpa, 20, was found dead at the mountain’s base camp on September 5, while Singaporean climber Lau Wee Seng, 50, died on September 17.
Why Rescuing Climbers on Mt Manaslu Is Difficult
Rescue operations on Manaslu can be extremely challenging due to the mountain’s harsh conditions.
Freezing temperatures, powerful winds and heavy snowstorms can quickly cover tracks, tents and climbers. Hidden crevasses and avalanche debris also pose significant dangers to mountaineers and rescue teams.
Helicopter operations are similarly difficult at extreme altitudes, with poor visibility and strong winds frequently preventing rescue flights.
In addition, climbers trapped in dangerous locations may struggle to alert rescuers because of weak communication signals or depleted batteries, making it difficult to transmit GPS coordinates and pinpoint their location.
