Hilaree Nelson: The Last Word.

https://taketonews.com/hilaree-nelson-mountaineer-death/

Hilaree Nelson died last week while skiing down the 8163m Manaslu. Her last post on instagram is worth reading.

“Back bent and head down. I haven’t felt as sure-footed on Manaslu as I have on past adventure into the thin atmosphere of the high Himalaya. These past weeks have tested my resilience in new ways. The constant monsoon with its incessant rain and humidity has made me hopelessly homesick. I am challenged to find the peace and inspiration from the mountain when it’s been constantly shrouded in mist. Yesterday we ended our summit bid when we decided it was too dangerous to move from C3 to C4.

We subsequently decided to ski down from C3 knowing that would mean carrying our skis all the way back up the mountain again if, big if here, we try again for a summit. It was the best thing we could’ve done.

As soon as I made the first turn in the sticky hot pow, in a total white out, all the weight and seriousness that had been plaguing me this whole trip faded to the background. With @jimwmorrison we skied about 4500 ft of the 6000 ft descent to BC. It was full of shenanigans rappelling over seracs with our skis on, posing for pictures with climbers going uphill. Laughing, racing @namgye @ila_nuru @pemba_sharwa (they won of course) and generally just finally being present and actually seeing what I have been seeing for weeks but not absorbing (hope that makes sense). We got back to BC soaking wet, in the pouring rain, just in time for a hearty BC dinner. Smiling and laughing felt amazing! “