AMERICAN CLIMBER RAY YERITSIAN LOST EN ROUTE TO SHISHA PANGMA
Mounteverest, NY
02:47 am EST Sep 18, 2007
(MountEverest.net) American climber Ray Yeritsian died in Nyalam
(3750m) last Friday while traveling to Shisha Pangma base camp,
Asian Trekking reports.
Born and raised in Armenia, Ray moved to California in 1991. In
a 2004 interview, Ray told ExplorersWeb that he went through the
Russian climbing system for mountaineering experience. "Add some
Armenian "flavor" to it and my Western views on mountaineering in
general… that’s where I think I stand at this point" he said about
his ambitious climbing plans back then (Everest Norton line).
Ruptured artery
Ray liked to climb solo or in small teams with little support and this
fall, he joined the Asian Trekking’s Dream Shishapangma expedition. He
was to climb with three Sherpas, French Jean-Christophe Albert Ludot
and Australian Blair Falahey – who recently aborted an attempt on
GII after an avalanche killed two people and left two others injured.
The team was supposed to start out on 11th of September. Due to
landslide, the expedition was delayed and planned to reach base camp
on September 15. But according to Doctors, Ray suffered a ruptured
artery in Nyalam.
"As per the wish of his wife and family members his body was
repatriated to USA in coordination with the US Embassy, Nepal,"
Asian Trekking reports.
"The Asian Trekking family expresses its deepest grieve condolence
and pray to the Almighty to rest his soul in peace."
Ray’s climbing resume:
1984-1990 – North Caucasus, Pamir (Varzob region, Aksu region…),
Elbrus (1984) 1992-1998 – Yosemite (up to 5.11) Mexico Volcanoes
multiple routes on Mt.Whitney, Mt.Shasta,….
1999 – Mt. Aconcagua (summit) 2000 – Mt. Everest, South East Ridge
attempt (stopped due to an injury) 2001 – Mt.Lhotse, West Face,
attempt…unsupported (stopped by bad weather…) 2003 – Mt.McKinley,
West Rib variation, solo (summit)