A mummified body was found in the Andes, which turned out to be a US climber who disappeared 22 years ago.
A grim sight was revealed in the Andes of Peru, when the mummified body of an American climber who disappeared 22 years ago was revealed under the ice melted by climate change.
American William Stampfl disappeared on Mount Huascaran in the Andes in June 2002 when an avalanche surprised him and his fellow climbers. Stampfl was 59 years old when he disappeared, and his body was not found at the time despite the search.
According to the police who informed about the discovery of the body on Monday, Stampfli’s clothes, climbing equipment and shoes had been preserved well in the cold conditions, even though it has been 22 years since he disappeared. Among Stampfl’s equipment was also his passport, from which the authorities were able to identify the climber’s body.
The mountains Huascaran and Cashan in northeastern Peru are popular with climbers from all over the world, but there are risks involved in the effort. In May, the body of an Israeli climber who had been missing for almost a month was found. In June, an Italian climber was found dead in the Andes.