Among many different causes discussed earlier, the avalanche (ice and rock) triggering the surge wave and causing breach seems to be the most common cause of GLOF in the Himalaya.
The avalanche early Wednesday also pushed a fifth climber with the group, Hitoshi Ogi, 69, into the crevasse.
"During the late nineteen-sixties and early seventies, an avalanche of hirsutism and fuzziness took over the nation," Koren told us.
There had been an avalanche earlier in the day above the glacier, what a patrolman who'd seen it described as a "natural" (no one set it off) and an "anomaly" (it was a surprise).
Maj Gen Abbas earlier described the avalanche as "very massive".
Climbers have been returning from Mount Everest's base camp in Nepal, following the death of 16 sherpas in an avalanche earlier in the month.
If you're confused by the avalanche of early reports, denials, and conflicting statements about the massive security issues announced today, don't worry — you're far from the only one.
By Ralston's own written account, he had nearly drowned, disturbed a bear and stumbled into an avalanche on earlier adventures.
There are two downbeat moments, "Super Triangle" and "Lazy Poltergeist", but other than that the mood is early Saint Etienne meets the Avalanches down the rollerdisco, wearing Sesame St costumes and chewing chocolate flavoured Bubblicious.
The Colorado Avalanche scored an early goal and, for the second straight game, dared an opponent to match it.
