November 20th, 2025 - Survivors recount deadly snowstorm in Chile's Patagonia

When the hikers left their campsite early Monday morning, the weather in Chilean Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park seemed unpleasant but manageable — light rain, strong winds, and temperatures just above freezing. They were beginning the most challenging section of their multi-day trek, but nothing suggested what was coming. Within hours, they were caught in a sudden blizzard with hurricane-force winds reaching 120 miles an hour, barely able to see a few feet ahead. Dozens were injured, and five hikers went missing.

By the following day, officials confirmed the worst: all five missing hikers — visitors from Mexico, Britain, and Germany — had died. At a Thursday news conference, regional prosecutor Cristián Crisosto announced an investigation, saying authorities were taking statements from park staff, the company operating the Los Perros campground, and nearly 70 people who were on the trail during the storm. All five victims died from hypothermia, and a total of 27 people were injured.

Chilean officials said they were coordinating with the victims’ consulates to repatriate the bodies. The country’s National Forest Corporation expressed deep regret and began relocating trekkers from the park’s O Circuit, an 85-mile loop known for its difficulty. The John Gardner Pass — the highest and most exposed point, and the site where the hikers died — will remain closed while officials investigate.

Questions quickly emerged about preparedness and response. Park authorities admitted that no rangers were present on Monday, as they had left the previous day to vote in the presidential election. Several hikers who lived through the storm criticized the lack of warnings and the slow emergency response. Some said they had returned to camp with frostbite, head injuries, and hypothermia, only to find staff unprepared and unresponsive.

Vertice, the company operating the Los Perros campground, said it had contacted authorities and supported rescue teams. But survivors described a chaotic scene. Dr. Megan Wingfield, an anesthesiologist from Colorado, recounted how she and her husband left camp early Monday after staff assured them weather conditions were typical. Hours later, hurricane-strength winds made standing nearly impossible. Just shy of the pass’s summit, other hikers covered in icicles warned them to turn back.

The retreat quickly turned into a desperate struggle for survival. Visibility dropped to only a few feet, and the steep rocky slope had frozen into a dangerous sheet of ice. Multiple hikers slid uncontrollably; one man tumbled nearly 50 feet before his backpack broke the impact. Injured, frightened, and freezing, dozens eventually made it back to camp by late morning. Doctors within the group tended to the wounded, but survivors say the campsite staff refused to offer shelter or call for help.

By early afternoon, the hikers themselves began organizing a search for those still missing. Confusion spread as they tried to identify who had not returned and which authorities could be reached. One hiker who later died had been seen falling repeatedly. Just after 3:30 p.m., another trekker, Arab Ginnett, managed to post an urgent plea for help online, warning that people still trapped on the pass were at risk of dying without immediate rescue.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Gauche (adj, GOHSH) - Gauche describes someone or something having or showing a lack of awareness about the proper way to behave. When describing a person or a behavior, gauche can mean “socially awkward” or “tactless”; when describing an object (such as a product with a vulgar image or slogan on it) it can mean “crudely made or done.”

Example: Some people view giving cash in lieu of a wrapped present to be terribly gauche, but I like knowing that my friends and family will be able to pick out something they truly want.

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