News Flash: The following news flash is a preliminary report posted as a service to our readers. Alpinist will post a story in detail when more information becomes available.–Ed.
American alpinist Joe Puryear has been killed while climbing Labuche Kang (7367m) in Tibet. Initial reports indicate he was climbing unroped and fell through a cornice. Puryear, with partner David Gottlieb, had received the Mugs Stump award and Goretex Shipton-Tilman grant for an exploratory expedition to Nepal and Tibet. The pair planned to climb and investigate the southern aspect of the Labuche Kang Massif and are believed to be the first climbers to enter that area. Joe Puryear will be deeply missed by his friends around the world and our thoughts are with his wife, family and friends.