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Two Climbers Die on Caraz in Cordillera Blanca

The exact cause of the accident is not yet known

South American climbers Ian Schwer and Juan Pablo Cano were found dead at the base of Caraz after an unknown accident, said Rafael Figueroa, the president of the Association of Mountain Guides of Peru.

“This is a very technical mountain, that is, it requires a lot of preparation to be able to climb it, not only because of the height but also because of the climatic conditions,” Figueroa said.

“We have recovered the bodies of the two Argentine mountaineers who died trying to climb the snowy Caraz,” Major Gilmer Torres, of the Alta Montaña police in the city of Huaraz, said.

Caraz is a 6,025-metre peak in Huascarán National Park in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru. Schwer and Cano were both experienced climbers, Schwer with a number of new routes to his name in the Patagonia area.

Schwer also taught physical education and was a member of the Andean Club and Rescue Committee of the Bariloche Andean Club and was in charge of the Frey Refuge.

“Ian was a leading climber of his generation,” said friend Martín Raffo. “He was a high-level climber who made hard climbs throughout Argentina, Europe and South America.

Willy Schwer, Ian’s father, shared a message on Facebook: “Until always, dear son, you made your life an enormous cult of friendship and companionship, we all honour your example, we will miss you forever, from new peaks on high you follow in the hearts of all. They shelter you.”

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