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Virginia Schwartz and Jane Van Criekingen, the Ottawa-area women who were feared missing in Nepal after a deadly series of blizzards and avalanches struck the region, are safe and sound.

In a post to Facebook Thursday morning Ottawa time, Schwartz said she and her friend were out of danger.

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“Thank you to everyone for all the kind words and prayers, we are safe,” Schwartz posted.

“We are trekking out of the avalanche danger zone and heading back down along the circuit. We are now in Manang on the lower side of the pass and hope to be in Pokhara in 3-4 days.”

Mark Schwartz, Virginia’s brother who has been coordinating the information on the search for the pair, told the Citizen today the family was relieved to hear the women were safe and on their way out of the danger area.

However, he speculated it will likely now be two or three days before they hear from the two again because of communications problems in the area.