Fearing for our lives: Australians tell of Chilean mountain horror where five hikers perished
Emily Dong's heart still races as she recalls the terror she felt on a remote mountain trail in Chilean Patagonia. The 24-year-old Australian woman was part of a group of about 30 people, including 13 Australians, who attempted to conquer the O Circuit trail at Torres del Paine national park on November 17. However, their hike turned into a nightmare when fierce winds hit 190km/h and temperatures plummeted to –5C, making it feel like –20C.
"I remember holding my hands over my head because that's how heavy the storm was," Dong said, describing the extreme conditions she faced. "It was impossible to move forward." The group had been warned by staff that they could stop at a nearby hut for lunch and warmth before pushing on, but it was locked, leaving them vulnerable to the elements.
As the winds howled around her, Dong crawled across an ice sheet on all fours, unable to put on her spikes due to the freezing conditions. Her walking poles were of little use against the battering wind that forced her to her knees at every step. The group's leader, Sid Bildmann from Brisbane, made the difficult decision to turn back, but it was too late. Four days later, five hikers had succumbed to hypothermia in a tragic accident.
Dong and her friend survived by crawling down icy slopes on their hands and knees, with some falling to the ground. The group managed to rescue one of the victims, Cristina Calvillo Tovar from Mexico, but it was too late for Julián García Pimentel, who had died of hypothermia.
The incident has sparked outrage among hikers, with many blaming a "huge systemic failure" in the park's safety protocols. The group of survivors claims that they were encouraged to attempt the treacherous pass on a day when conditions were extremely bad and there was no support from rangers or rescue teams.
"It was hard to leave the camp," said Renae Casini, another Australian hiker who survived the disaster. "You could see the people, the faces that were still on the hill... We wanted to do more to help. It plays in my mind." The group of survivors has called for essential safety measures to be introduced, including a hiker log at each campsite and access to medical equipment.
The Chilean government, parks administration (Conaf), and private operator Vertice have all faced criticism over their role in the disaster. Vertice said it had a strict visitor registration protocol, but Conaf has ordered an internal investigation to determine potential liability. The O Circuit trail remains closed for investigation, with concerns that some hikers may still be unaccounted for due to the absence of sign-in sheets or tracking.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of hiking in remote and rugged terrain, where even the most experienced adventurers can fall victim to extreme weather conditions. As Dong so aptly put it, "Nobody should have been allowed, let alone encouraged to attempt the pass that day."
Emily Dong's heart still races as she recalls the terror she felt on a remote mountain trail in Chilean Patagonia. The 24-year-old Australian woman was part of a group of about 30 people, including 13 Australians, who attempted to conquer the O Circuit trail at Torres del Paine national park on November 17. However, their hike turned into a nightmare when fierce winds hit 190km/h and temperatures plummeted to –5C, making it feel like –20C.
"I remember holding my hands over my head because that's how heavy the storm was," Dong said, describing the extreme conditions she faced. "It was impossible to move forward." The group had been warned by staff that they could stop at a nearby hut for lunch and warmth before pushing on, but it was locked, leaving them vulnerable to the elements.
As the winds howled around her, Dong crawled across an ice sheet on all fours, unable to put on her spikes due to the freezing conditions. Her walking poles were of little use against the battering wind that forced her to her knees at every step. The group's leader, Sid Bildmann from Brisbane, made the difficult decision to turn back, but it was too late. Four days later, five hikers had succumbed to hypothermia in a tragic accident.
Dong and her friend survived by crawling down icy slopes on their hands and knees, with some falling to the ground. The group managed to rescue one of the victims, Cristina Calvillo Tovar from Mexico, but it was too late for Julián García Pimentel, who had died of hypothermia.
The incident has sparked outrage among hikers, with many blaming a "huge systemic failure" in the park's safety protocols. The group of survivors claims that they were encouraged to attempt the treacherous pass on a day when conditions were extremely bad and there was no support from rangers or rescue teams.
"It was hard to leave the camp," said Renae Casini, another Australian hiker who survived the disaster. "You could see the people, the faces that were still on the hill... We wanted to do more to help. It plays in my mind." The group of survivors has called for essential safety measures to be introduced, including a hiker log at each campsite and access to medical equipment.
The Chilean government, parks administration (Conaf), and private operator Vertice have all faced criticism over their role in the disaster. Vertice said it had a strict visitor registration protocol, but Conaf has ordered an internal investigation to determine potential liability. The O Circuit trail remains closed for investigation, with concerns that some hikers may still be unaccounted for due to the absence of sign-in sheets or tracking.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of hiking in remote and rugged terrain, where even the most experienced adventurers can fall victim to extreme weather conditions. As Dong so aptly put it, "Nobody should have been allowed, let alone encouraged to attempt the pass that day."
. The thought of those Aussie hikers facin' down 190km/h winds and temperatures way below freezin' is just crazy 
. I can imagine how petrified Emily Dong must've felt crawlin' across that ice sheet on all fours, tryin' to stay alive 
. It's like, what were the park rangers thinkin'? Shouldn't they've been monitorin' the conditions more closely? And now five people are dead and a bunch of others are traumatized... it's just so senseless 
. I hope that group of survivors gets some serious support and justice 
. This incident is a real wake-up call for hikers to be way more careful out there, especially in remote areas like that 
.
. The winds were insane and the temps were FREEZING 
! How could they not be prepared for such extreme weather conditions? 
It's just not right that they had to crawl down icy slopes like animals 
on all fours... 
.
. The group of survivors deserves so much respect for keepin' calm and gettin' outta there alive 
! But it's still sad that they had to go through such a traumatic experience 
.
. Safety should always be the top priority when it comes to hiking in remote areas 
. I'm so glad Renae Casini said that playin' in her mind about those 5 hikers... it's a harsh reality check 
It's all about makin' sure everyone gets home safe 'n sound 
. I mean, I've heard of hiking in harsh conditions before, but this is on a whole other level 
. It's not even about being prepared, it's about having the right support system in place 
. Like, what if they had that hiker log at each campsite? 
Wouldn't that have made all the difference?! 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to brave the elements and push their limits in Torres del Paine? But, at the same time, it's all about being prepared and respecting the power of nature. The fact that they were told a hut was available for lunch but it wasn't, is like, super harsh 
.
. nvm the lack of safety protocols, the fact remains, 5 ppl lost their lives because of extreme weather & poor planning. 
. Vertice and Conaf are getting a lot of heat for this one and i think they should be 
. And five people lost their lives? That's just devastating 
. The hikers themselves did their part by warnin' others about the dangers of the O Circuit trail.
. We need better safety measures in place, like what Renae Casini mentioned about a hiker log and medical equipment bein' available. It's just common sense, really 
. I'm not saying they should just close off all trails or anything, but some extra precautions would be nice, you know? Like, more staff on the ground to help people out if they get into trouble... it's just common sense 
.
what happened on those hikers in Torres del Paine national park... 190km/h winds? -20C temps? That's just crazy 
. We gotta give it to them for surviving at all! 
.
And now that it's closed, I hope those who are still missing get found soon.
. And the fact that the park admin didn't have a hiker log in place? Unreal 
Just basic common sense and some decent safety protocols.