One of the most dramatic high-altitude rescue missions of recent times, British alpinist Fay Manners and American climate scholar Michelle Dvorak were successfully rescued after being stranded for over 60 hours at an altitude of 6,300 meters on Chaukhamba-III in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal Himalayas. The duo faced extreme weather conditions after losing essential climbing equipment and supplies due to a rockfall, enduring their harrowing ordeal without food, shelter, or proper communication tools.
The situation began on Thursday afternoon when the climbers sent an SOS call after their climbing gear fell victim to an unfortunate incident. Following a common mountaineering technique, they were climbing ahead of a shared kit bag, which they intended to pull up using a rope. During this process, a rockfall severed the rope, sending their bag—along with crucial items like food, a tent, and climbing gear—plummeting into a gorge. With limited communication equipment, they managed to send out an emergency message, but for two days, they remained stranded in freezing conditions, anxiously scanning the skies for help.
Rescue operations led by the Indian Air Force (IAF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) began on Friday. However, the harsh and inaccessible terrain of the Chaukhamba-III peak, known for its steep ice faces and treacherous glaciated sections, posed severe challenges. Helicopters circled the area multiple times but failed to locate the climbers, who had lost all means to signal their presence after the rockfall.
A breakthrough occurred when a French expedition team, already in the region for another mission, learned about the stranded alpinists. The French climbers, diverting their route based on coordinates provided by the rescue authorities, managed to locate Manners and Dvorak on Saturday. They immediately relayed the women’s exact position to the Indian rescue teams, enabling the final stage of the rescue operation.
Early on Sunday morning, an Army helicopter successfully airlifted the two women from the perilous heights of Chaukhamba-III to Joshimath. Both climbers were reported to be in good health, albeit understandably shaken after their ordeal. The SDRF teams, who had been advancing on foot toward the climbers, were also safely retrieved and flown back to base.
This high-altitude rescue was particularly challenging due to the technical difficulties posed by the location. Helicopters operating at altitudes above 6,000 meters encounter thin air, making it harder for them to hover, land, or safely deploy rescuers. Despite these challenges, the collaborative efforts of multiple teams, including the French climbers and Indian rescue forces, ultimately ensured the safe return of the stranded mountaineers.
Manners, an experienced climber with several notable first ascents, and Dvorak had embarked on their expedition in mid-September. While their climb of Chaukhamba-III took a dangerous turn, the rescue has highlighted both the unpredictability of high-altitude expeditions and the incredible teamwork required for mountain rescues in such extreme conditions.
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