Two Kenyans are set to climb the famous Mt Manaslu in Nepal, even as the mountain reels from a deadly avalanche that has claimed two more lives this week.Mountaineers Swabra Swaleh Breik and Daniel Moenga are among hundreds of climbers from around the world attempting the 8,163-meter (26,781-foot) peak during Nepal's ongoing Autumn 2026 climbing season.Manaslu is the world's eighth-highest mountain and sits in the Manaslu Himal range in Nepal's Gorkha District. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word manasa, meaning mountain of the spirit.The two Kenyans have already completed their acclimatization rotation on the mountain.The pair is now preparing for the final summit push, but heavy snowfall has halted summit attempts on Manaslu, leaving climbers waiting for the weather to improve.The duo will be the next Kenyans to climb the infamous mountain after Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, who climbed it in 2023. Kirui and four mountaineers embarked on their journey to climb Manaslu, starting from Kathmandu and trekking to Dharapani. Their acclimatisation rotations took them to higher camps, despite Kirui suffering from high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) symptoms. His determination led him to reach the summit on September 24 without oxygen canisters or Sherpa assistance.He, however, passed on in May 2024, after he summited Everest without supplemental oxygen, becoming the first African to do so. Even so, the latest preparations by the two Kenyans come shortly after an avalanche buried a tent at Camp III, killing Indian-German climber Dhruba Jyoti Guha and Sherpa guide Fursemba Sherpa from Makalu.Officials say the pair left Camp II on the evening of September 19 for an early summit attempt. Rescuers reached Camp III the next day and found both dead.That makes four deaths this season. Porter Tashi Sherpa, 20, from Nepal, was found dead at base camp on September 5, and Singaporean climber Lau Wee Seng, 50, died on September 17.Finding a missing climber on Manaslu is difficult. Freezing temperatures, high winds, and heavy snowstorms can bury tracks, tents, and people, while hidden crevasses and avalanche debris can swallow climbers.On the other hand, rescue helicopters also struggle at high altitude and are often grounded by poor visibility and strong winds. Weak signals and dead batteries can stop trapped climbers from sending GPS coordinates.
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