Greeley, Colorado, resident Eric Nourse and his friend David Reinhart of Lake Oswego, Oregon, both died from complications of altitude sickness in Argentina this week. Only Eric’s twin brother, Greg Nourse of Portland, survived. The trio were experienced alpinists, having climbed in Europe, Denali, and the Andes. But Nourse and Reinhart both failed to properly acclimate on Aconcagua and Reinhart apparently became incapacitated on the face of the Polish Glacier, a route that’s considered more challenging. At 22,000 feet Eric Nourse pushed toward the summit to try to find an approach trail back down to get help but the entire endeavor took way too long, with both Nourse brothers spending considerable time and energy, and Reinhart eventually having to be abandoned. The Nourses made it to base camp but when Argentine EMTs reached Eric, they found the oxygen content in his blood was dangerously low. They urged him to descend, but he eventually went to sleep and could not be resuscitated. Via Denver Post.

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Tags: mountaineering

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