In May 2019 Moran was guiding an expedition in India to climb Nanda Devi East (). Having trekked in to Nanda Devi East base camp on 18 May, they established a higher base camp at three days later. The party of twelve climbers then split; one group to fix ropes to the main route on Nanda Devi East, whilst Moran's party of eight attempted an acclimatisation climb and first ascent of an unnamed, subsidiary peak at . On 25 May Moran confirmed that a camp had been established around and his party would set off for the summit the next morning. All contact was subsequently lost with Moran's group, and a search by the other party failed to find them, but noted evidence of a large avalanche on their route. The alarm was raised on 31 May.