A harrowing incident recently unfolded on Nevado Huascaran, Peru's towering peak, involving two Japanese mountaineers. While Saki Terada was successfully extracted from the treacherous slopes, albeit in critical condition due to severe dehydration and frostbite, her climbing partner, Chiaki Inada, tragically succumbed to the harsh elements, specifically hypothermia and cerebral edema. This grim event underscores the immense risks inherent in high-altitude expeditions and prompted a complex, multi-day rescue operation.

The ordeal began earlier this week when Terada and Inada, both experienced climbers, found themselves in severe distress on the 6,757-meter Nevado Huascaran. Their ambitious ascent, which they had prepared for with an acclimatization hike, culminated in disaster during their descent. On June 24, at approximately 1:30 AM, Chiaki Inada became incapacitated, likely due to hypothermia, prompting an urgent distress signal via a Garmin SOS satellite device. This triggered a widespread response involving a private Peruvian rescue agency, local police authorities, and even the Japanese Embassy in Peru, all working to coordinate a rescue effort for the stranded climbers.

Despite the swift initiation of rescue operations, the challenging conditions of Huascaran presented formidable obstacles. Helicopters were unable to operate at the extreme altitude of 6,600 meters where the climbers were stranded, necessitating a ground-based approach from the Huascaran refuge hut. The rescue teams, comprising over ten members, predominantly local mountain guides, faced difficult terrain, including large crevasses, as they ascended. By the afternoon of June 25, the rescue team finally reached the two women. Terada was found conscious, but Inada was unconscious and in a critical state. As weather conditions deteriorated, making it impossible to transport both climbers simultaneously, Inada's death was confirmed at the scene. Her body was left temporarily on the mountain, its location marked by GPS, while the focus shifted to evacuating Terada.

The evacuation of Saki Terada continued into June 26. She was eventually able to walk part of the way down before needing to be carried by the rescue team. Her journey to safety involved reaching a helicopter pickup point at the refuge hut, from where she was transported to Víctor Ramos Guardia Hospital in Huaraz. Her condition was described as critical but stable, primarily suffering from severe dehydration and frostbite. Plans were made for her to be transferred to a hospital in Lima, Peru's capital, for ongoing specialized medical care. Meanwhile, efforts were initiated to recover Inada's body from the mountain, with a team of local mountain police and guides departing that evening to undertake the difficult task.

The tragic events on Nevado Huascaran serve as a potent reminder of the inherent perils of scaling high-altitude peaks, even for seasoned mountaineers. The incident highlights the critical importance of rapid response, meticulous coordination between various agencies, and the immense bravery of rescue teams operating in such hostile environments.