Four French climbers were missing after trying to scale a 5,896-metre (19,338-feet) peak in Nepal, the French embassy and sources close to the mountaineers told AFP on Tuesday.
The four men set off to climb Paldor Peak, about 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Kathmandu, on October 12.
"We were supposed to meet them on November 5, so we were there and they didn't show up," said Stefania Paolik, a friend of the missing men.
"They were very experienced climbers. One was already working as a mountain guide, the other was finishing his training and the other two were very experienced in mountains," she said.
Paolik said the men were from the mountain town of Grenoble in southeastern France, and were aged between 28 and 36.
She said they had taken enough food for their climb, but no extra, and added they also had a satellite telephone. Local villagers last saw the two men at a base camp on October 13.
"There has been a helicopter overflight but nothing was seen," said Paolik.
The French embassy in Kathmandu confirmed that four men were missing and said it was helping organise a search.