In reply to UKC News:
Is there any more detail yet?
I remember visiting Annapurna base camp in 1998 and meeting an American team who were retreating from a failed attempt on Bonnington's south face route. I had a chat with the expedition leader over a beer. He said the team had been spooked by avalanches and too many of them had simply lost the will to continue.
He was deeply impressed by Bonnington and team's pioneering 1970 expedition.
Hearing the cracks and the booms of rockfall and icefall resounding from all around the massive Annapurna amphitheatre, I think I would have wanted to run away too. It was the most intimidating place I have ever been in.
If he did climb the main south face, Steck's ascent will go down as one of the most outstanding Himalayan ascents ever done.