Family and friends of Sydney woman Ruth McCance remain hopeful she will be found alive, more than a week after going missing while climbing in India's Himalayas.

Key points: Ms McCance had trained extensively for this expedition

Ms McCance had trained extensively for this expedition Her friends hope her experience will help to keep her alive

Her friends hope her experience will help to keep her alive Ms McCance had previously given up mountaineering due to the dangers

Ms McCance is one of eight climbers who failed to return to basecamp after climbing India's second-highest peak Nanda Devi on May 26.

Local mountaineers reported a heavy avalanche on their proposed route and, while India has sent military helicopters and a search team on foot, it could take days until they reach the remote location.

Family friend Peter Lowndes said Ms McCance's husband, Trent Goldsack, had been taking the news of her disappearance "very hard", particularly due to initial delays in communication.

"He's been quite distraught about that … but he's trying to stay positive," Mr Lowndes said.

"It's just a numbness and a feeling of helplessness that not only can you not do anything, but you can't find out any information either."

Mr Lowndes said information was now coming through from the Indian Government, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the mountaineering community.

"I'm aware of the latest updates and I would just say that there's no confirmation one way or the other and we're still hopeful of a positive outcome," he said.

"There's always hope and we have to stay positive."

McCance had previously quit mountaineering

Ms McCance trained at high altitude in the lead-up to the expedition. ( Facebook )

He said Ms McCance was "phenomenal" at whatever she did and she had competed for Australia at multiple World Cup sailing events.

The executive coach and mentor had recently returned to mountaineering after giving it up due to the danger.

However, she was very well prepared for the trip, having completed expeditions to high altitudes, and trained in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

"She has been honing her mountaineering skills for years … this really was to be the culmination of all of those efforts — an expedition that would test the edge of her capabilities.

"It was a challenge for herself, just to get out into the wilderness and feel the energy that you get from the virgin wildernesses that she was exploring."

Mr Lowndes said the mountaineering and sailing communities were rallying behind Mr Goldsack and were hopeful Ms McCance's training could help her survive the elements.