Body of Veteran Nepali Mountaineer Pur Bahadur "Yukta" Gurung Arriving in Kathmandu

The death of renowned Nepali mountaineer and IFMGA/NNMGA-certified mountain guide Pur Bahadur Gurung, affectionately known as "Yukta," was confirmed after the devastating avalanche on Broad Peak (8,047m) in Pakistan on July 30, 2026. The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed the recovery and identification of his body, while the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA) also announced that Yukta had lost his life during the avalanche.

Born in 1989 in Lapu Village, Dharche Rural Municipality-4, Gorkha, Yukta grew up surrounded by the Himalayas that would later define his life. As a young man, he dreamed of joining the British Army, but Nepal's armed conflict altered that path. Leaving home at an early age, he found work at a hotel in Manang, where he met trekking guides and discovered his true calling in mountaineering.

Yukta began his career in 2009 as a porter before steadily working his way up through the ranks. He served as a kitchen helper on camping expeditions, became an assistant guide, then a trekking guide, and ultimately earned recognition as a professional mountain guide. In December 2025, he achieved one of the highest honors in the profession by becoming an IFMGA/NNMGA-certified International Mountain Guide, a milestone that reflected years of dedication, skill, and perseverance.

Over the course of his career, Yukta established himself as one of Nepal's finest high-altitude climbers. He completed his first Mount Everest summit in 2011 and went on to reach the world's highest peak 10 times, the most Everest ascents by a climber from the Gurung community. Beyond Everest, he successfully summited 12 of the world's 14 mountains above 8,000 metres, leaving only two of the legendary fourteen unclimbed.

Among his remarkable achievements was a 24-hour summit of K2, one of the world's most technically demanding mountains. He was also widely respected for his role in numerous high-altitude rescue missions, helping stranded climbers and trekkers in some of the Himalayas' harshest conditions. Fellow climbers admired him not only for his strength and experience but also for his calm leadership, humility, and commitment to the safety of others.

Just three weeks before the tragedy, Yukta left Nepal for Pakistan to guide an expedition on Broad Peak. Tragically, the mountain that had inspired his life's work also became his final resting place. He passed away at the age of 37, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of courage, professionalism, and service to the mountaineering community.

Pur Bahadur "Yukta" Gurung will be remembered not only for the peaks he conquered, but for the lives he touched, the climbers he guided, and the inspiration he provided to a new generation of Nepali mountain professionals. His legacy will continue to live on in the Himalayas he loved so deeply.   

The Summit8000 family extends its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Pur Bahadur "Yukta" Gurung an extraordinary mountaineer whose courage, humility, and legacy will forever inspire the Himalayan community.