March 30, 2003, 9:55 PM EST
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) _ An American tourist died last week after suffering medical complications while scaling the towering South American mountain peak of Aconcagua, local news reports said.
Authorities identified the dead climber as Ryan Dickson of Belle Meade, N.J., according to the newspaper Los Andes of Mendoza. It said he was climbing the mountain last week with five other climbers when he reportedly suffered breathing problems.
The newspaper said the climber was more than 15,000 feet up the mountain on March 23 when he fell ill and attempted to descend with a fellow climber who then went in search of help.
Los Andes said a rescue group reached the stricken climber on March 25 but that Dickson died before he could be brought down from the mountain.
At 22,830 feet, Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere and a tourist draw for hundreds of hikers and climbers in the South American summer because of a relatively gentle ascent.
Authorities discourage climbing on the mountain outside the summer months and when abrupt weather changes are forecast.
From
Newsday.comCopyright © 2003, The Associated Press
Discuss about the highest mountains on the seven continents
