Kamas adventure founder dies in Mount Makalu avalanche in Nepal

Kamas-based Dash Adventures lost one of its founders on a Himalayan peak that has become part of the company’s identity. Shelley Johannesen was killed in an avalanche on Mount Makalu in Nepal, while co-founder David Ashley and a Nepali guide were injured and flown to a Kathmandu hospital.

The slide hit below Camp 3 as the group descended after reaching the summit the day before. Makalu rises to 8,485 meters, or 27,838 feet, making it the world’s fifth-highest mountain. Johannesen’s body was also flown to Kathmandu after the avalanche on Sunday, May 10.

Johannesen was 53 and had deep ties to the Mountain West and the endurance sports world. Coverage described her as an Oregon native, a mother of three and an adventure racer who lived in Francis, just south of Kamas. That local connection makes the loss land close to home in Summit County, where outdoor recreation and guided trips are part of the region’s economic fabric.

Dash Adventures was founded in 2023 by retired U.S. Air Force Col. Dave Ashley, according to company profile material that described it as a small, veteran-owned outfitter working with locally owned guide companies. The business is rooted in the kind of high-risk adventure culture that draws clients to Utah and to expeditions far beyond it, linking Kamas to climbs in places like Nepal through a niche but visible tourism economy.

Ashley said Johannesen died in his arms and expressed condolences to her family, underscoring the personal toll behind the professional partnership. The injury to Ashley, along with the treatment now being given to the Nepali guide, leaves the company facing a sudden and public loss tied to one of the most dangerous environments in the world.

The avalanche also landed amid Nepal’s busy spring climbing season, when fatalities were already mounting across the Himalayas. For Kamas and nearby Francis, the death of one of the people behind Dash Adventures is a reminder of how quickly the business of guiding, travel and extreme sports can turn from a commercial venture into a local tragedy.