Disaster on the Annapurna Circuit | How 43 people lost their live in sudden change in weather

On October 14, 2014, a weather change occurred on the Annapurna Circuit, that claimed numerous lives around Thorong La Pass and resulted in one of the largest rescue operations in the Himalayas to date.
This is the Mountain Story on that day!

[@jp_sabo8460]

I’m surprised there aren’t more mishaps there tbh. I hiked the circuit 6 months before this disaster in 2014. When we arrived at High Camp, there was no snow on the ground. By the time we went over the pass in the early morning there was 3 feet of snow and minus 10 celsius. We made it to the top ok, but once the clouds rolled in there was a lot of guess work as to the direction we needed to walk. No one had cramp ons and I landed on my backside many times with the snow and ice. All that said it’s my all time favourite hike!

[@MylesDavid]

Computer generated talking is never a good idea. You should always use a real person! 😊👍🏼

[@mntstories]

Thank you for your feedback! Maybe soon 😉

[@MylesDavid]

@@mntstories I have a production studio in Arizona, and I do a lot of voice over work. Maybe we should chat? 😊

[@JavierBonillaC]

Not too bad

[@Nuttyirishman85]

Probably doesn’t speak English. Sometimes I wish people would use computer generation instead of their horrible attempts at English. On a side note, this doesn’t sound computer generated.

[@haveahappyday1749]

It sounds fine to me!!

[@BikalpaCodes]

I was at the Annapurna Base Camp on this day, 14th of October 2014. I vividly remember that day it started to snow all of sudden (which was unexpected) from the evening before and it snowed all night. Next day, everyone was rushing to get back down and we were among the ones walking with the local guides and porters who knew the trail. There were rumors of some avalanche on the opposite face of Annapurna and everyone wanted to get back as soon as possible. The visibility was zero and the snow was upto my knees.

[@SofaKingShit]

Instead of walking up the Annapurna trail, mostly because I'd only just gotten out of crutches, I took the busses the local people take up to the high altitude villages as far it would go instead. The bus travels at walking pace with steep cliffs dropping off to one side of the slippery dirt road, making the kids cry with fear, and at one time we drove through a weed field where the branches were slapping through the open windows so that the whole bus smelled of weed. I stopped at 2700 meters because of altitude sickness, which freaked me out a little with the realization that I'm so pathetically weak. After a few days acclimatization l got back on the bus, and after walking past a few landslides to get to another bus which would hopefully be waiting on the other side of the rocks covering the road, and another bus would indeed eventually turn up and would drive us further on. I got up to 4000 meters where l collapsed with cold and more altitude sickness and l stayed in one of those hostels that dot the trail. The usual deal in the hostels that the accommodation is free but you have to buy all your food in the hotel restaurant. So l just hung around playing billiards with a mild headache and eating some pretty damn good pizza. That was my Annapurna trail experience. Yay.

[@ricf9592]

And you're proud of that?

[@PeterZivZakor]

We arrived to Thorung La exactly one year later. It started to snow. We were aware of this tragedy so we decided to take one day off and wait for the snowing to stop... we passed Thorung La in snow but it was a nice sunny day. We were thinking about how many people died there one year ago, and that there are still people missing who's body could be around us somewhere. It was a very strong experience. Mountains and weather can kill people in smaller mountains too, so we need to be careful there!

[@alainbourdaire8782]

C'est quoi ce cours de morale stupide?

[@canterburytail2294]

I hadn't heard of this until today, 10/14 is my birthday so this stands out to me. I did the circuit in April of 1986, it was not nearly as busy back then and the trek was longer, but wow, it is up there in my top 5 vacations. I managed the 200 miles with a rented jacket and sleeping bag from Katmandu and a pair of regular running shoes, a floral dress and leggings. I didnt even have a proper pack, just some little book bag. I really stood out as a young blonde lady, smoking hash out of a converted potato. Wild times.. I was in top condition from mountain bike racing back in California. It is really cool to hear from others that have been there, it is quite a hike and I remember people that could not. handle the pass and had to turn around, I cannot imagine being there in a storm. Crazy, rip to all those that feel the call to mountains and end leaving their spirits there.

[@pratikshrestha1026]

@@canterburytail2294 What an experience. IF you could share photos from that trek, if any, to get glimpse of what my country looked like in that era.

[@bujfvjg7222]

Why are humans so taken aback by death? There is no life without death, it's an inevitably and just like a newborn baby- it just happens every day. Wish people would stop this hallowed-ground nonsense!

[@sumitar-pother-panchali]

​@@canterburytail2294same birth date and month. Wish to do this trek this year. We were at Thorangla in 1997 during "Indian Women Trans Himalayan journey" later named "To Walk across The High Himalaya". Started from. Arunachal Pradesh ended after 6 and half months at Karakoram pass(India China Border)

[@AndiAlles]

Did the circuit exactly one year before in 2013 - still getting goose bumbs thinking about what could have happened

[@miivii]

Did it in 2005 (October) classic cirquit in 11 days with 1 day pit stop in Manang and 1 day in Tatopani. Walked from Besisahar all the way around. After that I went on Sanctuary trek and finishedit in 4 days. Beautiful weather on Annapurna trek and a lot of rain on last two days. Thorong La pass was almost without snow. After TL passed we stopped at Bob Marley lodge in Muktinath. Unforgetable.

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

The voice sounds like a real man talking not a computer anyway thanks a lot for this great sad story

[@Fluflo83]

Did the cirquit 3 months after the avalange. Been up there for xmas and new year, very good track and not many people. At the pass We still could see the block of ice and snow from few months before, we wolked on it...was really scary and sad at the same time. Took us 19 days. Good memories! ❤️

[@spanishmeatloaf7901]

I happened to be in Pokhara as that was occurring. I didn't learn of that until a week later when friends/family were email/messaging me asking if I was okay.

[@MrFlippin24]

Guys , meteorologists announce a super cyclone on this route in a few days ..... -Trekkers : ''screw it lets go anyway''

[@takmilafarid463]

We were at Sri Kharka when it started snowing. Snowfall lasted for about 30 hours. It was something I wish to never experience again.

[@amedv]

Annapurna likes to eat people even if you are not attempting to climb it.

[@ReesieandLee]

That computer voice kills me! I made it halfway through but can’t finish it, sorry.

[@jaydevine7777]

I was on my way to Mera through the Sola Khumbu during the storm. The hi pass at 4,600m was brutal. People thought I was on Annapurna Circuit for some reason and I was presumed dead for a few weeks while I went up Mera.

[@clowkey1747]

Actual narrators are better but I’m actually pretty impressed by the computer narrator.

[@grinpisu]

I think it was a suicidal decision to start for the pass when forecast was bad.

[@michaellonsdale5904]

I did this trek in June 1987.

[@patrickouger6923]

i do it en october 1987 with a lot of snow the path was closed 10 days .When i arrive they open the path to the Thorong ,i do it alone and so meat 4 humans .This trip change all my life orientation ,it was a super gift unforgetebal

[@trekkingguidenepal9794]

to remind you now days this can be done in a week or less than two week but if you want to hike through same old routes which is mostly gravelled road then it takes 21 days

[@humbertsmith8864]

Funny how the people who take jeeps all the way to Manang still call it "The Circuit". LOL

[@nancytestani1470]

Well, even if it is, I like his voice..very smooth, takes well…

[@SNOWDONTRYFAN]

Having trekked that route years ago , one can still remember an early morning start in darkness to cross it before the winds kicked up , lucky to have completed it all , before they widened sections of the route with new roads

[@MacawAviculture]

What an awesome adventure!

[@indicjournies]

Yea i did it in March this year

[@humbertsmith8864]

@@indicjournies Doing it starting Dec 1st

[@indicjournies]

@@humbertsmith8864 i will be in Nepal from November 19th to Dec 4 😍 , for langtang Trek

[@humbertsmith8864]

@@indicjournies Oh so nice! I hope you have a wonderful time. If the snow is bad at Thorong La in Dec I will turn around and do Langtang.

[@frankblangeard8865]

Hey there's a blizzard coming in and the hardest part of our trek is just ahead of us. Whoo hoo let's do it!

[@BirdFlypath]

A very sad occasion.This commentary does it justice.

[@caifrootz2537]

I feel the lesson here on big trecks like this, always take a tent or emergency group shelter, might add an extra couple pounds of weight, but might also save your life

[@shakes.dontknowwhatyergettin]

There will be no lessons learnt. This very comments thread is full of idiots recounting how they did exactly the same as these people, while being similarly clueless and ill equipped, and how great it was and how much they want to do it again.

[@sharonroberts3397]

PEOPLE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST AND PRAY THAT IT DOESN'T GET THAT BAD

[@iveehazarika3737]

Nice.

[@humbertsmith8864]

I am doing the circuit in 3 weeks! So excited!

[@Fluflo83]

Bring a lot of chocolate , snaks and dry fruits with you . Light and needed. Enjoy it!

[@zorilaz]

I'll watch a video about your death later

[@d_reeves1133]

Bro you still alright?😂

[@humbertsmith8864]

@@d_reeves1133 Hey there...yes... absolutely loving it so far. In Dharapani tonight

[@humbertsmith8864]

@@Fluflo83 Thanks... absolutely beautiful so far

[@thomasfilion875]

My dad was there with the Karavaniers group. Crazy. I was 16 when it happened, i didnt hnderstand the meaning of what he had told me. Now, older, i understand holy shit what he went through

[@Asaya911]

Very hard may there souls be in heaven ❤

[@foenzie]

Great now I still don't know how they died.

[@rajaamir8143]

Please make some stories about K2 Pakistan

[@davidalexander287]

It appears to me that the weather was not the problem but the hikers failure to go properly equipped. Hope for best and prepare for the worst. Shelter, water and appropriate clothing is a must.

[@jaydevine7777]

It's a short pass and then a reasonable decent to the next settlement...in good weather! Some of the passes , like the Larky La are 5km long at 5,200m and very demanding. So they probably thought they would be ok. I was in Nepal at the exact same time and we all knew a double cyclone had just entered the Bay of Bengal and was rushing towards the mountains ,so planned accordingly.

[@-E42-]

is this an AI-voice? the prosody sounds quite natural, but it still sounds somewhat more even than a human speaker would?

[@faridabegum177]

When death comes calling… there ‘ s no escaping it ….

[@iveehazarika3737]

Save.

[@lsudx479]

Damn. I was looking forward to a mountain story and heard the AI narration and am only taking the time to tell you that AI narration distracts from the video. Clicking off this video now. I'll be back in the future to see if you've gotten a human narrator because I really like the subject matter of this channel.

[@imacarrot6570]

Domo arigato. Mr. Roboto .. :P

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

Great narrator

[@KPGLIKESTOLEARNTHETRUTH]

It’s not wise trying to beat Almighty’s Nature.

[@toadamine]

Anna Porna... she's one of my fav starlets... lmao

[@fantastico5526]

Ofcourse they will find their peace in the mountains as they went to die there

[@comontoshi]

Must be nice to have money to throw away . . . 😎

[@maxsdad538]

If you WORK for it, it's yours to spend as you see fit. Try it some time.

[@jameskaplan263]

I don't know about 2023 but in 2004 2 of us did the trek with a guide an porter for $750 USD pp inclusive end to end. Booked from the U.S.

[@doncheadle898]

it ain that expensive

[@eclecticplays]

imagine calling documentary to a short video lmao

[@ttvdizturb3d]

you got a good voice for narration i cant stand a lot of these big channels cause of how they sound.. mrdeified is the worst, dude cant narrate half as good as you and has 50x the viewers - keep it up

[@zorilaz]

You get what you asked for

[@jamisbillson4872]

Shouldn’t these trekkers have satellite phones? If snow and inclement weather blocks mobile phone communications, which is often the cause of accidents, then surely a satellite phone which works in all weather should be used. Can’t trekkers hire a satellite phone just for their trek? Such a simple thing can be such a massive safety precaution.

[@MissBlu3B3aR]

They are not cheap aha

[@michaelmueller7962]

Maybe they should not. Unfortunately too many people (sometimes for to show off on social media) take more risks, the better they feel equipped with all that safety gear, or dare to go on hikes/climbs they normally would not, knowing they would have to get rescued if things go badly wrong. These rescuers then often risk their health or life.

[@Longtack55]

Inconvenient and heavy.

[@dougdavis8986]

Doesn't matter what phone you have if there is no one to come for you. Best advice: know how to take care of yourself in any situation.

[@maxsdad538]

How will a satellite phone help you in a mountain blizzard? And MOST satellite phones won't work in obscured skies... and a blizzard obscures the skies. Sat phones don't work indoors or under heavy tree canopies, same thing for heavy snow.

[@zaidanaldzakir2008]

@aqiss and family 🇮🇩👼🌏 @rekaputri.official akubukanjodohnya