Overview
- Five trekkers — a Briton, two Germans and two Mexicans — died as winds reportedly neared 120 mph, and four others were rescued.
- Survivors say campsite staff told them the forecast was “normal” and cleared them to start the John Gardner Pass route.
- The regional CONAF director said rangers were not on duty that night because they had returned to vote under Chile’s mandatory system.
- Volunteer hikers led improvised searches before formal rescue teams arrived, and efforts to resuscitate Victoria Bond were unsuccessful.
- Hikers dispute suggestions that victims were lost, citing GPS tracks on the trail and calling for clearer briefings and potential trail closures.