On June 23, two female Japanese mountaineers, Saki Terada, 36, and Chiaki Inada, 40, became stranded on 6,757m Nevado Huascaran, Peru’s highest peak. One of them is now confirmed dead.
Nevado Huascaran. Photo: Wikipedia
The two veteran climbers arrived in Peru in early June and spent two weeks acclimatizing. They then started climbing Huascaran and likely summited earlier this week.
The weather has been challenging on Huascaran, with poor visibility above 6,000m. Terada and Inada became lost in the fog in the huge area just below the summit. They could not find their high camp and had to bivouac at around 6,500m, according to Latina Noticias.
There, health problems set in. One of the climbers went snowblind because of cerebral edema, and in nighttime temperatures as low as -30°C, hypothermia also affected them. Inada was in particularly poor condition.
The green arrow shows where Terada and Inada became stranded. Frame of a video published by Latina Noticias
Distress call
Terada and Inada sent a distress call via their InReach device on June 24, after spending two nights outside. Deep snow and poor visibility continued to complicate the situation. The climbers had cell service on the mountain and also asked for local rescue.
The pen indicates where Terada and Inada became stranded in the fog. Frame of a video published by Latina Noticias
Peru’s National Police mobilized specialized rescue teams. A helicopter made three rescue sorties, but continuing poor weather didn’t allow it to reach the two climbers. So from an altitude of 4,800m, rescuers started to move up on foot toward them, according to the TV station, Latina Noticias.
On June 25, both climbers were located, thanks to their InReach device. Unfortunately, by then, Inada had succumbed to hypothermia and was confirmed dead at the scene. Rescuers are currently bringing Terada down the mountain.
Saki Terada and Chiaki Inada. Photo: Instagram
Terada and Inada are experienced mountaineers, and Inada also served as an expedition doctor.
Terada was a member of the Himalayan Camp, a Japanese mountaineering group known for organizing high-altitude expeditions. In 2023, she participated in the Sharpu VI expedition in Nepal.
Saki Terada, at right, with Takahiro Kaneko, center, and Takahiro Ishikawa during the Himalayan Camp’s 2023 expedition. Photo: Takahiro Kaneko
