Medical Evacuations of Climbers on Mount Aconcagua,2022–2024

Abstract

Introduction

Mount Aconcagua (6961 m) is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere and attempted by over 3000 climbers annually. Aconcagua Provincial Park (APP) and the APP medical service oversee all rescues and medical care. This study aims to describe patients and conditions requiring rescue medical evacuation on Aconcagua.

Methods

Demographic, medical, and logistics data provided by APP on all park evacuations were retrospectively reviewed from the 2022–23 and 2023–24 climbing seasons.

Results

Of 6494 total Aconcagua climbers over the study period, 302 required an evacuation response from APP (mean 151 per year), yielding an evacuation rate of 4.7%. Mean age was 43.0. Male climbers had twice the risk of requiring rescue than female climbers (OR 2.01). Most evacuees were European (40%) or North American (33%), though climbers from Africa, Asia, and Australia had over twice the incidence of rescue (OR 2.26). Most frequent reasons for evacuation included altitude illness of all types (62%), high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) (49%), trauma/musculoskeletal (15%), general medical (11%), and acute mountain sickness (11%). Most were flown by helicopter (95%), with flight location primarily from 4200 to 4300 m base camps (77%) and between 5300 and 5970 m (16%).

Conclusions

On Aconcagua, 4.7% of climbers required medical evacuation. Altitude illness frequently required rescue, with HAPE representing the single most common reason for evacuation. Male sex and certain continents of origin showed increased risks. Helicopter evacuation and medical oversight by APP appear to contribute to climber safety on Aconcagua. Opportunities exist for future study and climber education of risks.