Hansjörg Auer on the summit of Lupghar Sar West at 11:30 on 07/07/2018 after having climbed the virgin West Face Photo by Hansjörg Auer,

Jess Roskelley making the first ascent of the South Ridge of Mount Huntington, Alaska, 2017 Photo by Clint Helander

Hansjörg Auer and David Lama at their highpoint during their first attempt of Schiefer Riss on the Sagwand. Photo by Hansjörg Auer

David Lama and Hansjörg Auer. The two Austrian alpinists are reported missing after an avalanche in the Rocky Mountains in Canada, along with American alpinist Jess Roskelley. In this picture Lama and Auer are climbing the SE Ridge of Annapurna III in Nepal on 29 April 2016 Photo by David Lama / Red Bull Content Pool

David Lama and Hansjörg Auer missing in Canada

18.04.2019 di di Planetmountain

According to the Austrian newspaper Tiroler Tageszeitung, Austrian alpinists David Lama and Hansjörg Auer are reported missing after an avalanche in the Rocky Mountains in Canada.

Austrian alpinists David Lama and Hansjörg Auer are feared missing after an avalanche in the Rocky Mountains. The news, still awaiting official confirmation, was first reported by Austria's Tiroler Tageszeitung - and subsequently widely quoted by other media outlets including Italy's ANSA news agency. According to the newspaper, a huge avalanche occurred and yesterday, Wednesday 17 April, a first helicopter reconnaissance proved unsccessful. It is assumed there may also be other people involved.

Unquestionably two of the most talented mountaineers in the world, 28-year-old Lama and 35-year-old Auer had traveled to the Canadian Rockies only recently. Along with 36-year-old leading American alpinist Jess Roskelley the trio had repeated Andromeda Strain, a difficult route up the NE Face of Mount Andromeda. ANSA has reported that there are also concerns about the fate of Roskelley.