Toowoomba teen Alyssa Azar determined to overcome Everest avalanche tragedy

TEENAGER Alyssa Azar has received abusive emails after vowing to reach the top of Mt Everest despite an avalanche which killed 13 guides.

QUEENSLAND teen Alyssa Azar has vowed to reach the top of Mount Everest and is prepared for the risks of crossing the treacherous and unstable Khumbu Icefall where 13 guides died last week.

The 17-year-old Toowoomba trekker has been subjected to abusive and vile messages from people who disagree with her plans to continue, her father Glenn has revealed.

Her father Glenn Azar says he and Alyssa have received emails attacking her desire to continue.

“We’ve received a few different emails from anonymous people telling her they think what she’s doing is wrong ... some quite vile stuff,” he told the ABC on Tuesday.

Mr Azar said he’d be quite happy if she cancelled the attempt but Alyssa and her Sherpa guide wanted to persevere.

“(But) I’ve always been a believer in allowing the kids to chase their dreams and this is something she lives and breathes. I have to accept that risk as part of it,” he said.

Alyssa was training at the icefall the day before the avalanche. She told The Courier-Mail she discovered the tragedy as she emerged from her tent that morning.

“Avalanche is always a possibility, particularly in the icefall,” Alyssa said.

“I understand that and have accepted that reality. You don’t come to Everest unless you’re willing to take risks.”

But Alyssa – who hopes to become the youngest Australian to reach the summit – is still awaiting a decision from Nepal’s government on whether expeditions will be cancelled for the rest of the year.

Thirteen Nepalese climbers were killed and three more are missing after the avalanche on the morning of April 18.

Everest avalanche won’t stop Alyssa

Many Sherpas have left base camp to return to their families, vowing to stay away for the remainder of the climbing season.

The Khumbu Icefall is considered one of the most dangerous sections of the Everest climb. The Khumbu Glacier moves about 1m a day, creating large crevasses that open with little warning.

It can take 10 to 12 hours for first-time climbers to cross and ascend. Climbers risk being hit by tumbling ice the size of houses or falling through crevasses hidden by snow.

The icefall has claimed many lives, including one climber who was crushed by a 12-storey block of ice.

Alyssa said she would remain at base camp until May for optimal weather forecasts.

“The mood has changed and obviously has hit everyone hard,” Alyssa said.

“The Sherpas are very well respected people and it’s a sad time for us. I am not sure where the climb goes from here. We have a few days before deciding what the next month holds. We will have a base camp meeting and ceremony out of respect for those involved in the accident.’’

Mr Azar said on Facebook that he fully supported his daughter’s bid to reach the summit and said she had handled the “handful” of abusive messages with “incredible humility and strength”.

“She has taken this hard, and her Sherpas have sat with her and said they too wish to carry on. This assisted in making her decision.”