Mummified American Climber Found 22 Years Later in Peru as Glaciers Retreat

The Andes of Peru have always been a magnet for adventure-seekers, with their towering peaks and treacherous glaciers. But sometimes, the mountains keep their secrets for decades—until nature itself reveals the truth.

On July 5, 2024, Peruvian police and mountain rescue workers made a haunting discovery at 5,200 meters (17,060 feet) on the slopes of Huascarán, Peru’s highest peak. There, exposed by the relentless retreat of the glaciers, lay the mummified remains of American climber William Stampfl, who vanished in 2002. For 22 years, Stampfl’s fate was a mystery—until the melting ice gave up its secret.

A Frozen Mystery Unveiled

Mummified American climber found 22 years later in Peru as glaciers retreat

Peruvian mountain police and mountain rescue workers gather around the remains of American climber William Stampfl who went missing in 2002 and is suspected to have died in an avalanche, in Huascaran, in this undated handout picture received by Reuters July 9, 2024. Policia Nacional del Peru (PNP)/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights

When rescuers reached the site, they found Stampfl’s skeletal body astonishingly well-preserved by the cold, dry mountain air. His climbing boots, crampons, and clothing were still intact—a time capsule from the early 2000s. Even more chilling, his driver’s license and passport were found with him, leaving no doubt about his identity.

Stampfl is believed to have died in an avalanche while attempting to summit Huascarán, a mountain notorious for its unpredictable weather and deadly slopes. For years, his disappearance was an unsolved tragedy, one of many in the perilous Cordillera Blanca.

The Power of Melting Ice

Mummified American climber found 22 years later in Peru as glaciers retreat

 Personal items of American climber William Stampfl, who is suspected to have died in an avalanche, are displayed next to his body after Peruvian mountain police and mountain rescue workers found his remains following his disappearance in 2002, in Huascaran, in this undated handout picture received by Reuters July 9, 2024. Policia Nacional del Peru (PNP)/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights

Edson Ramirez, a park ranger and risk assessor for Huascarán National Park, explained the significance of the find. “What was buried years ago is coming to the surface,” he said. The glaciers that once entombed Stampfl have been retreating at an alarming rate, driven by global warming. In fact, Peru has lost 56% of its tropical glaciers in the last sixty years—a staggering figure for a country that holds 68% of the world’s tropical ice.

As the ice melts, it not only reshapes the landscape but also resurrects stories long thought lost. Bodies, equipment, and secrets hidden for decades are now reappearing, forcing climbers, scientists, and families to confront the past.

A Legacy of Adventure and Tragedy

The Cordillera Blanca, with its iconic peaks like Huascarán, draws thousands of climbers each year. But for every summit conquered, there are tales of loss—of climbers swallowed by avalanches, storms, and the unforgiving cold. Stampfl’s story is a stark reminder of both the allure and the danger of these mountains.

For his family and the climbing community, the discovery brings a bittersweet closure. The mountains finally returned what they had taken, but only as the world itself changes.

A Warning from the Glaciers

Stampfl’s mummified remains are more than a relic—they are a warning. As Peru’s glaciers continue to shrink, the risks for climbers grow, and the evidence of climate change becomes impossible to ignore. The mountains are shifting, and with them, the stories of those who dared to climb.

In the shadow of Huascarán, William Stampfl’s legacy endures—a testament to human courage, the power of nature, and the mysteries that only time and melting ice can reveal.