Injured Slovenian climber stranded in the Himalayas, rescue attempt under way, colleague says

Associated Press

Last update: November 12, 2009 - 9:55 AM

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - A veteran Slovenian mountaineer has become stranded in the Himalayas during a solo climb, and bad weather is hampering rescue efforts, a colleague said Thursday.

Tomaz Humar last contacted his base team in Nepal on a satellite phone Monday to say he had been injured, and he has not been heard from since, Viki Groselj told The Associated Press. Groselj could not identify the injury, but Slovenia's Delo newspaper, which also reported the event, said on its Web site that Humar had broken a leg.

In Katmandu, Nepal's Department of Mountaineering could not immediately be reached for comment late Thursday night.

Groselj said Humar was believed to be stuck at an altitude of about 20,670 feet (6,300 meters) on the southern face of the (23,710-feet-high (7,227-meter-high) Langtang Lirung mountain in Nepal.

Groselj said bad weather has been hampering rescue efforts, but he could not provide details.

Humar, 40, who is married with two children, has climbed many mountains around the world.

In 2005, he got trapped in the Himalayas on an icy ledge of Nanga Parbat mountain at about (19,685 feet) 6,000 meters during a solo climb. Two Pakistani army helicopter pilots eventually saved him and were later decorated with Slovenian highest award for bravery.

Humar received the annual Piolet d'Or mountaineering award from a French magazine in 1996, and the Sliver Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia in 1999.

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