The Russian Mountaineering Federation announced the death of 35-year-old Alena Vlasova, the reigning national ice climbing champion. Her peers knew her as a fearless competitor who pushed through tough routes and inspired many in the climbing community. Her passing prompted a wave of sorrow across the sport as athletes, friends, and fans alike came to terms with the loss of a remarkable figure who had become a symbol of perseverance on the ice and rock.
The federation offered condolences to her husband and their ten-year-old daughter, underscoring that Vlasova had died at the height of her life and career. The news touched not only fellow climbers but also supporters who had followed her achievements in national events and international showcases.
Details from regional mountaineering authorities indicated that at the start of June Vlasova was bitten by a tick. The resulting infection triggered meningitis and a severe pneumonia that damaged about 70 percent of her lung capacity, with her heart stopping on October 5. The sequence of medical events underscored how quickly a tick-borne illness can escalate into life-threatening complications for even elite athletes who maintain peak conditioning.
Further updates from the federation suggested that the ultimate cause of death was meningeal encephalitis triggered by the tick bite, with the infection starting at a dacha in June 2024. The ensuing pneumonia affected roughly seven tenths of the lungs, and Vlasova spent the final three months on a ventilator before her heart failed. The loss was felt not only in Russia but across the mountaineering world, where her skill and warmth had made a lasting impression.
Alena Vlasova is survived by her husband and their ten-year-old daughter. A farewell service was arranged for October 9 to honor her life, celebrate her achievements, and acknowledge the void left by her absence in the sport she loved so deeply.
Earlier in the year, Vlasova partnered with Nikita Glazyrin to win the doubles event at the Russian Mountaineering Championships in Tomsk. She marked that triumph with posts celebrating the victory as a gift to her husband on his birthday, sharing how much the moment meant to their family and his role in her climbing journey.
Her husband, Maxim Vlasov, also a climber, posted a tribute describing her as cheerful, kind, and open to everyone. He spoke of her as a loving mother, devoted wife, supportive daughter, and true friend, highlighting the warmth she brought to every team and to those who knew her well. The message reflected the respect and affection that surrounded her both on and off the rocks.
Mountaineers had an accident in Nepal
This incident came on the heels of another tragedy in the Russian mountaineering community, reminding climbers that danger can strike far from home. Earlier reports described a deadly accident involving a group of local climbers on the ascent of Dhaulagiri in Nepal, an ascent that presents extreme altitude, weather, and terrain challenges that test even seasoned teams.
On October 6, a team of five climbers began their ascent from a high-altitude camp and subsequently lost contact. A rescue helicopter located the climbers dead at an altitude around 7,100 meters, with preliminary indications that they may have fallen from approximately 7,600 meters during the climb. The loss of five climbers marked a sobering moment for those who follow high-altitude expeditions in the region and reinforced the peril inherent in peak mountaineering.
Local reports identified the deceased as five climbers, while another teammate who had felt unwell at the camp was evacuated for medical care. Early morning recovery operations confirmed the fatalities, with injuries described as severe and consistent with a fatal fall. The outcomes in these two tragedies underscore the unpredictable and unforgiving nature of high-altitude mountaineering, where even skilled climbers can be confronted with sudden, life-altering danger.