Mt. Everest avalanche death toll continues to climb

Seattle, Wash. --- Locally based Madison Mountaineering confirmed one person is dead and another unaccounted for after an avalanche crashes into a base camp on Mount Everest.

Marisa Eve Girawong, the expeditions doctor was killed when an avalanche struck the base camp after a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal.

The co-owner of Madison Mountaineering, Kurt Hunter says the company was guiding a team of more than a dozen clients, guides and sherpas.

"Its awful, the first thing that goes through my mind is the impact on the family and friends and loved ones over the loss of someone," Hunter said.

Leading the team on Everest is the owner of the company, Garrett Madison.  He's an experienced climber on Mount Everest.  He was leading a team to a secondary base camp high above where the avalanche struck.  Kurt says Madison contacted him by satellite to say the team was safe and said they felt the earthquake.

"They said it was intense," Kurt said.

The team is camping out at around 21,000 feet.  Kurt says communication is sketchy but will get updated by the team when they come up with a plan of action.