Peru’s Most Famous Mountaineer Dies on Makalu

May 8, 2019 Ash Routen 8000ers | Expeditions | Mountain | Mountaineering

Peruvian mountaineer Richard Hidalgo has been found dead in his tent on Makalu (8,485m), the world’s fifth highest mountain. Hidalgo had planned to summit without supplementary oxygen or Sherpa support.

Rope-fixing Sherpas noted that Hidalgo climbed up to Camp 2 (6,500m) on May 7 and went to bed at around 9pm. Yesterday, the Sherpas checked Hidalgo’s tent, since they had not seen him on the mountain. The cause of death is unknown.

Hidalgo was working towards climbing the Seven Summits and all 8000’ers without oxygen by 2021, to celebrate the bicentennial of Peru’s independence.

Hidalgo was an International High Mountain Guide (UIAMG) and had climbed six of the 8000’ers: Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Manaslu, Annapurna, Gasherbrum II and Broad Peak.

Relevant Links

Hidalgo’s Website

Ash Routen Ash is an outdoor and adventure writer from the UK. His words have featured in global outlets such as The Guardian, Outside Magazine and Red Bull. He works as a public health scientist by day and writes about the outdoors in his spare time. Ash's areas of expertise are polar expeditions, mountaineering, and adventure travel. For vacation Ash enjoys going on independent Arctic sledding expeditions. Read more at www.ashrouten.com