Search party discovers remains of lost American trekker in the Pyrenees mountains
Cole Henderson, a 27-year-old American hiker, has been found deceased on the north face of Monte Perdido, the third-highest peak in the Pyrenees. The discovery was confirmed by the Spanish Guardia Civil to CNN on Tuesday.
Henderson went missing last month in the Pyrenees. On July 9, he told friends he was going to hike into the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park in the province of Huesca. However, he failed to take his flight home to the Netherlands two days later, prompting a search for him.
Monte Perdido, standing at 3,355 meters (11,007 feet) high, is a challenging climb, rated "Peu Difficile" (PD), meaning it is somewhat difficult. The typical ascent involves steep climbing sections and may include crevassed glaciers, making specialized equipment such as ice axes and crampons essential for safety[2][3].
The route from Torla, where Henderson's car was located, was still covered in snow in early July, increasing the need for such equipment. While some sections might be climbed without ropes, the terrain’s steepness and potential glacier crossings make technical mountaineering gear advisable[2].
The search for Henderson was a difficult operation due to the remote location and challenging terrain. Specialist mountain rescue teams and helicopters from the Air Service were deployed to assist in the search. Eventually, a crane was used to airlift Henderson's body from the mountain[4].
It is believed that Henderson may have attempted to climb Monte Perdido. The route is not suitable for inexperienced hikers or small children due to the challenging terrain[2][3]. General hiking paths in the Monte Perdido/Ordesa area, such as the routes to waterfalls like Cola de Caballo, are moderate but involve permanent climbs and are best suited to those accustomed to mountain hiking; these trails do not usually require technical climbing gear[1].
CNN's Sam Peters and Jack Guy contributed reporting to this story.
[1] Monte Perdido - Wikipedia
[2] Hiking in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park - Pyrenees Guide
[3] Monte Perdido - SummitPost
[4] American hiker found dead on Monte Perdido in Pyrenees - CNN
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