2 Hiking Friends Confirmed Safe

By COLlive reporter

Many in Crown Heights and around the world are breathing a sigh of relief early Monday, as two Crown Heights residents who were hiking in the mountains in Nepal and were not heard from for many hours, were confirmed safe late Sunday night.

“We are overwhelmed and appreciate so much the concern, care and worry everyone has shown for us,” Danny Cole told COLlive on Monday morning.

Danny Cole, a father of four from Crown Heights and Mendy Losh, originally from Crown Heights and recently a resident of Los Angeles, were hiking in the area when the earthquake hit.

“We actually did not know the full extent of the disaster until a few hours ago,” said Cole to COLlive. “Communication throughout the Kumbi Valley has been virtually non-existent since the earthquake hit. We have been trekking from town to town the last couple of days looking for service just to tell everyone we were ok, as well as to find out exactly what was going on,” he said, noting that the two had to run for cover to protect themselves from falling boulders during the quake.

At 1:45 am early Monday, Yitzi Cole, brother of Danny Cole, said in an email to COLlive, “BH I can confirm that they have made contact and that they are OK.”

Danny Cole said they are currently at the Everest Base Camp, waiting to be airlifted out to safety.

“While we are physically tired and emotionally overwhelmed and trying to comprehend what was going on the last couple of days, we are also very thankful for being unharmed,” Cole said.

Soon after gaining access to communication, Mendy Losh sent a text to his friend Zevi Steinhauser saying, “We are safe. We had no connection the last two days. Hope to get more connection in a few hours. Phone about to die and bad connection here.”

Steinhauser was overjoyed to receive the text, having waited all day for word from his friends. “I had already decided that if I had not heard anything by Monday, I would get on a plane and travel there to try and find them,” he told COLlive. “People were being unbelievably kind, offering financial assistance and other help to myself and the family for any travel or rescue efforts.”

The conditions are fine at the Base Camp, Steinhauser said, who has since received other communication from the hikers. They have shelter, enough food, and are in good shape, he said.

The two were traveling with a Nepalese Sherpa guide, having flown into the town of Lukla, and were hiking from there to climb part of mount Everest. After the quake, they were unable to continue or travel back without assistance.

Danny Cole’s brother-in-law Zalman Schreiber, representing the Cole and Losh families, said in a statement Monday morning: “Danny Cole and Mendy Losh have been located and are unharmed. Our families are in contact with them and we are working towards bringing them home safely.

“We thank the many people and organizations who have worked tirelessly on behalf of Danny and Mendy during this difficult time. We wish them continued blessing and success in their selfless efforts to help the countless other people in need of aid.

“We pray for the victims of this disaster and for all the families affected by the devastation.”