Annapurna Winter Attempt and Tragedy. Eight South Koreans with

Annapurna Winter A ttem pt and Tragedy. Eight South Koreans with nine N epalese were led by Kim Teuk-Hee on the north face o f Annapurna. Ice avalanches injured several m em bers and Sherpas. At midday on D ecem ber 2 during route preparation at 5800 meters, at the beginning o f the steep section, a big avalanche started from 200 meters higher and struck three mem bers and three Sherpas, leaving them with injuries to legs, fingers, shoulder and head. They were not wearing helm ets. W ith this accident and the expectation o f more to come, and the fact that three other m em bers were suffering from the high altitude, the climb was abandoned. Avalanching is com m on on the north face of Annapurna. On the retreat from Base Camp, Jun Suk-Byun fell 50 m eters down hard-crusted snow on the second day o f the trek back and died 6 ½ hours later. E lizabeth H awley