Body of US extreme skier recovered from Nepal mountain

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The body of a famed U.S. extreme skier who went missing this week after falling from the world’s eighth-highest mountain was recovered Wednesday and transported to Nepal’s capital.

Hilaree Nelson, 49 was skiing down from Mount Manaslu's 8,163-meter summit (26,775-foot), when she was struck by a rock.

Her body was flown by helicopter from Kathmandu to a hospital where doctors were planning to perform an autopsy.

Rescuers searching by helicopter located Nelson’s body on Wednesday after failing to find her on Tuesday and Monday, when bad weather hampered their search.

A lower mountain avalanche also occurred Monday. It killed a Nepalese climber and left several others injured.

Jim Morrison, who has just returned from the death of Hilaree Nelson (famous U.S. extreme skier), packs his bag and arrives in a helicopter at Kathmandu, Nepal's hospital on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Nelson, 49, was skiing down Mount Manaslu's 8,163-meter summit (26,775 feet) on Monday with Jim Morrison. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Niranjan Shrestha

Jim Morrison, second right, mourns as the body of his partner and famed U.S. extreme skier, Hilaree Nelson, arrives in a helicopter at a hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Nelson, 49, was skiing down Mount Manaslu's 8,163-meter summit (26,775 feet) on Monday with Jim Morrison. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Niranjan Shrestha

Jim Morrison carries the body of his partner and famed U.S. extreme skier, Hilaree Nelson, from a helicopter at a hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Nelson, 49, was skiing down Mount Manaslu's 8,163-meter summit (26,775 feet) on Monday with Jim Morrison. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Niranjan Shrestha

A helicopter carrying the body of famed U.S. extreme skier, Hilaree Nelson, lands at a hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Nelson, 49, was skiing down Mount Manaslu's 8,163-meter summit (26,775 feet) on Monday with Jim Morrison. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Niranjan Shrestha

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Hundreds of climbers and their local guides were attempting to reach the summit during Nepal’s autumn climbing season.

Nelson, from Telluride, Colorado, and Morrison, from Tahoe, California, are extreme skiers who reached the summit of Mount Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest mountain, in 2018.

Nepal’s government has issued permits to 504 climbers during the autumn season. Most climb Mount Manaslu.

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