A 70-year-old Canadian citizen, has died while descending Pomerape Volcano in the Sajama Park. Rescue efforts are currently underway to recover his body.
Disappearance and Search: According to reports, Claud reached the summit of Pomerape around 8:00 PM on Wednesday. However, during the descent, he fell and disappeared. The Socorro Andino Boliviano (SAB) was alerted at 2:30 AM on Thursday and immediately deployed a search party to the location.
Recovery Efforts Ongoing: A second team arrived from La Paz at 4:00 AM to provide additional support. Search crews managed to locate the climbers body later that day. As of Thursday evening, recovery efforts were still ongoing due to the challenging mountain terrain.
Limited Communication: The search area has poor phone reception, so an official report with more details is expected in the coming hours.
In case of emergency while climbing or trekking in Bolivia, you can contact Socorro Andino Bolivia at these numbers:
Update 18:42 – 5/31/2024
Press Report Details from SAB on Pomerape Volcano Accident
On May 29th, Mr. Claude Boisvenue, part of a three-person climbing team, ascended the Pomerape Volcanoe (6280 meters) via the south face. After reaching the summit around 4:00 PM, they began their descent, rappelling down the mountain in stages.
Fatal Fall
Around 8:00 PM, while unroped, Mr. Boisvenue fell approximately 500 meters down a steep slope (45-60 degrees). The fall resulted in multiple injuries and hemorrhaging, leading to his death.
Presumed Cause
Representatives from the SAB believe the accident was likely caused by a combination of factors, including limited visibility, climber fatigue and overconfidence.
Rescue Efforts
Following a distress call received at 2:30 AM on May 30th, a team from the Socorro Andino Boliviano (SAB) departed La Paz at 4:00 AM. Park rangers, local guides, and a driver also joined the rescue effort from the village of Sajama at 3:00 AM. They reached the scene by 6:00 AM and confirmed Mr. Boisvenue’s death.