Mummified body of American climber William Stampfl is found in Peru 22 years after he disappeared climbing the Andes
- Stampfl died with friends Matthew Richardson and Steve Erskine in June 2002
The body of an American mountaineer who disappeared more than two decades ago as he tried to climb one of the highest peaks in the Andes has been found.
William Stampfl was reported missing in June 2002, aged 59, when an avalanche buried his climbing party on Mount Huascaran in the Ancash region of Peru.
His remains were found in ice on Friday, exactly 22 years and three days after the anniversary of his death, Stampfl's family has revealed.
A pair of climbers and their guide found Stampfl in the Cordillera Blanca range during their descent of the mountain after his remains had been exposed by an ice melt.
Stampfl's body, as well as his clothes, harness and boots had been well-preserved by the ice and freezing temperatures. His ID was found among his possessions, allowing for the climbers to identify him and contact his loved ones.
The family worked with local guides and authorities to recover his remains over the weekend. His body was then put in a morgue in the city of Huaraz.
The body of American mountaineer William Stampfl, who disappeared more than two decades ago as he tried to climb one of the highest peaks in the Andes, was found by a climbing party last week. Pictured are rescuers recovering his body from the peak
Stampfl's body, as well as his clothes, harness and boots had been well-preserved by the ice and freezing temperatures. His ID was found among his possessions, allowing for the climbers to identify him
Stampfl died with friends Matthew Richardson and Steve Erskine when they attempted to ascend the more than 22,000ft high mountain in 2002.
His body was found on June 27 near a camp 17,060ft above sea level as a climber, his brother and their guide were descending down the mountain.
The mountaineer's loved ones claim the 'incredibly respectful' party used their online network to locate Stampfl's family and alert them of the discovery.
The family then liaised with local officials to organize the recovery.
Erskine's body was found shortly after the avalanche, but Richardson's is still missing.
Stampfl was reported missing in June 2002, aged 59, when an avalanche buried his climbing party on Mount Huascaran. His remains were found this month after an ice melt
The mountains of northeastern Peru, home to snowy peaks such as Huascaran and Cashan, are a favorite with mountaineers from around the world.
Hundreds of climbers visit the mountain each year with local guides, and it takes them about a week to reach the summit.
There has been an increase in the discoveries of remains of missing hikers, skiers and climbers as glaciers increasingly melt worldwide.
In May, the body of an Israeli hiker was found in the Andes nearly a month after he disappeared.
And last month, an experienced Italian mountaineer was found dead after he fell while trying to scale another Andean peak.
Peruvian mountain police and mountain rescue workers transport the remains of American climber William Stampfl down the mountain
The Stampfl family worked with local guides and authorities to recover his remains over the weekend. His body was then put in a morgue in the city of Huaraz. Pictured are rescuers during the recovery effort
The Andes are home to some of the fastest-disappearing glaciers and ice packs in the world, a study by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization revealed last year.
Over the last 40 years, the region has reportedly lost between 30 and 50 per cent of its ice cover, with some of the area's 'most valuable' glaciers having disappeared.
