American Climber Dies on Makalu During Expedition
An American climber, Alexander Pancoe, died last night while attempting to summit Mt. Makalu, according to the expedition organizer.
Iswari Paudel, Managing Director at Himalayan Guides, confirmed that Pancoe passed away at Camp II on the 8,485-metre peak.
Pancoe, a 39-year-old from Illinois, is believed to have died of cardiac arrest while resting at Camp II, as reported by fellow climbers. “Alex began to feel unwell after returning from Camp III, having completed his acclimatization rotation,” Paudel said.
A seasoned adventurer, Pancoe was the founder of Peaks of Mind and had successfully completed the Explorers Grand Slam—a challenge that includes reaching both the North and South Poles, as well as climbing the Seven Summits. He was also a brain tumor survivor, and in 2019, he summited Mt. Everest, dedicating the climb to Serena Lewis, a teenager with whom he shared a special bond.
Paudel added that both Pancoe’s family and the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu have been notified, and efforts are underway to airlift his body from the high camp.
