Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Climber From Indonesia Collapses During Hike on Mount McKinley in U.S.
Source: The Jakarta Post

A hiker from Indonesia hiker has died at Denali National Park, the second person within a week has to collapse and die shortly after successful summits of Mount McKinley, park officials said Tuesday.

Pungkas Tri Baruno, 20, of Jakarta, Indonesia, died Monday night while descending North America's tallest mountain, park spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin said.

Baruno collapsed about a half-kilometer - or about a 15-minute walk in a relatively flat region - from a camp at the 5,240-meter level, she said.

Climbing guides unsuccessfully tried to revive Baruno. McLaughlin said the cause of death remained unknown.

"We don't have any information on his health, but it would certainly appear that he was a very active person," McLaughlin said.

Plans to recover the body remained on hold until weather permits a high-altitude helicopter to access the area, perhaps as early as Wednesday.

Baruno was part of a guided expedition led by Mountain Trip. The group began to climb the West Buttress ascent of the 20,320-foot (6,194-meter) mountain on June 22.

Baruno, one climbing partner and two guides reached the summit on Monday. One person did not finish the climb, she said.

According to Baruno's climber registration form, this was his first attempt at McKinley. All his previous ascents were in Indonesia.

Baruno was the second casualty reported this week and fourth this season.

On Friday, American James Nasti, 51, died at the summit. Park officials said Nasti is the first climber known to have died at the summit.

In late May, two mountaineers from Japan disappeared and are presumed dead. They were attempting the technically demanding Cassin Ridge route.

Baruno's death brings the death toll on McKinley to 102 people since 1932.