KATHMANDU: As weather conditions further deteriorate in Pakistan’s Karakoram region, the recovery of climbers’ bodies including that of Nirmal Purja ‘Nimsdai’ from Broad Peak via long-line helicopter mobilization appears almost impossible on Tuesday as well.

“Weather is completely adverse for heli operations today,” renowned record-holding mountaineer Mingma G told The Tourism Times. An army helicopter, which was scheduled to fly to Broad Peak from Skardu on Monday, was also canceled at the last moment.

As the global mountaineering community awaits a chance to pay final tributes to legendary climbers including Nimsdai, friends and family have pinned their last-ditch hopes on Mingma G. Now, his team is the only one remaining on Broad Peak for the recovery mission.

“All others have already left, and my team is the only one here,” Mingma G said, adding that he would try his best to honor the concerns of the world mountaineering fraternity by resuming ground recovery today.

“I will try to climb the treacherous section of Broad Peak to retrieve three bodies - Nirmal Purja ‘Nimsdai,’ Chinese climber Wang Zhong, and Nima Sherpa - from 5,000m,” said Mingma G, an IFMGA/UIAGM-certified climber.

The three bodies are stuck at 5,000m on the Concordia side of the mountain, after Mingma G’s team recovered four bodies from 5,700m on Sunday. “I know the risks and challenges in the mountains, but I will try my best out of respect for my fellow legendary climbers,” Mingma G, who is the first Nepali to climb all 14 peaks without using supplemental oxygen, exclusively told The Tourism Times in a phone interview.

The bodies of Kili Pemba Sherpa ‘Kilu’ and Gyalu Sherpa are now on a flat area of the mountain, but three more bodies remain stuck on a risky slope at 5,000m. “A long-line helicopter recovery seems like the only option, but I have decided to try from the ground, realizing the sorrow and wishes of the deceased climbers’ loved ones,” Mingma G said. “Let’s wish for the best.”

In the Karakoram, helicopter rescue and recovery are extremely complicated. Although the Pakistan Army oversees helicopter operations there, managing long-line rescue missions remains a difficult task.

On Sunday, a search-and-recovery team led by Mingma G recovered four bodies from around 5,700m on Broad Peak, including that of Nirmal Purja ‘Nimsdai.’ At least 10 climbers—Nepali and Pakistani—reached Broad Peak base camp for the recovery mission. Among them, eight members reached Camp I. Later, five members, including Mingma G, reached the avalanche site, where four bodies had been spotted during a drone inspection.

Another body—that of Nawang Thindhu Sherpa—was not brought down, as it was located in a dangerous position above 6,000m. The body of Gyalu Sherpa had already been recovered, as the team found him at around 5,000m on Saturday.

Earlier, the bodies of Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy and Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta), as well as the mortal remains (a human leg) of American climber Mallory Geis, were airlifted to Skardu on Friday. Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, who also perished in Thursday’s avalanche, is still missing.

A massive avalanche killed 10 climbers just below Camp III on Thursday morning as they attempted a summit push on the world’s 12th-highest mountain. This is one of the worst mountaineering disasters in the Karakoram region.