By Dan Walton
Pioneer Staff
Five Invermere hikers were among a group trekking together in Nepal during a series of deadly disasters last week, and all of whom have since been confirmed alive.
Through Happy Feet Mountaineering a Nepalese Sherpa guiding company the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was told that the members of the group were all alive.
The news came as a relief after a series of blizzards and avalanches in the Himalayas claimed the lives at least 43,four of whom were Canadian, earlier in October. The event has been recorded as Nepals worst-ever hiking disaster.
As relayed through Alex Hogg, the son of one hiker involved, his father contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he learned that his wife, Marie-Therese Hogg-Renner from Invermere, and the members of her group were alive and well. Alex said that four to five days had passed before he and his father heard the confirmation.
On the trek with Marie-Therese from Invermere were Sylvie Janin, Marion and Marcel La Brie, and Bernie Rosner. Also in the group were other hikers from the Kootenays Phil Best from Nelson, Terry Simpson of Rossland, as well as Yoland Derksen from Zurich, Switzerland.
Alex said that before the incident, the group was expecting to get back on the grid on Wednesday, October 29th, though obvious circumstances have made that date indefinite.
In addition to Canadian and Nepalese victims, the confirmed deceased include citizens of India, Israel, Poland, Japan, China, and Slovakia. The government will apply additional safety requirements before the start of next years hiking season, Nepals Department of Tourism said.
An email to Happy Feet Mountaineering was not returned before press deadline.
