Deaths on Denali: Two Climbers Die In Same Week

Pungas Tri Baruno, a climber from Indonesia, has died while descending from the summit of Denali (Mt. McKinley). Pungas Tri Baruno’s death is the second death this week on North America’s highest peak.

Pungas Tri Baruno had apparently topped out on Denali and was in the process of descending to one of the higher camps. He had complained of a headache while descending and collapsed less than half a kilometer from the summit. Several guides did attempt to revive Baruno, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Baruno’s death on Denali represents the second climber death this week. This past Friday, climber James Nasti collapsed on the summit. Nasti’s death resulted in a high-altitude burial as a body recovery was deemed to risky in the area. Baruno’s body is currently being recovered, will undergo some scientific testing, then be shipped back to his native homeland of Indonesia.

Many people have been stopping by and emailing me on this latest incident–the second death on Denali in a week. I was holding off on posting about Baruno until I was certain that his family had been contacted in regards to this situation. When it first occured, there was not a whole lot of information coming out. I do have a few more facts about Pungas Tri Baruno at this time, as well as more information on the death of James Nasti.

READ MORE….