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Climber Mortality on Mount Aconcagua, 2013-2024.
Aaron Brillhart1, Bernabé Abramor2, Rodrigo Duplessis2
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine
|April 18, 2025
Summary
Recent Aconcagua climbing deaths show a 0.071% fatality rate. Most deaths occur above 6000m, with older climbers and those from the United States at higher risk. Safety efforts can be improved with this data.
Area of Science:
- Mountaineering Safety
- High-Altitude Physiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, attracts thousands of climbers annually.
- Understanding climber mortality is crucial for enhancing safety protocols on high-altitude expeditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize recent climber fatalities on Mount Aconcagua.
- To identify risk factors associated with mortality to inform future safety initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of climber fatalities on Aconcagua over 10 climbing seasons (2013-2024).
- Analysis of fatality rates, causes of death, and demographic data.
Main Results:
- The overall fatality rate was 0.071% (0.71 per 1000 climbers).
- 90% of fatalities occurred above 6000m, with 71% of unspecified medical cause.
- Climbers over 50 years old (OR=5.11) and from the United States (OR=2.56) faced significantly higher mortality risks.
- Compared to 2001-2012, recent fatalities (2013-2024) were more frequent at higher altitudes, with older victims, and more from North America.
Conclusions:
- While the overall Aconcagua fatality rate remains stable, there's an increased proportion of deaths at higher altitudes (>6000m) and from medical causes.
- Climbers over 50 and those from the United States are identified as high-risk groups.
- This data can guide targeted educational programs to mitigate future climbing-related deaths on Aconcagua.
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