A group of tourists entered Torres del Paine’s O Circuit despite deteriorating weather forecasts. About 30 international trekkers departed Los Perros campsite between 5 and 7 a.m. on 17 November to cross John Garner Pass. Light rain and moderate winds greeted them, but conditions shifted rapidly at higher altitudes. By late morning, visibility shrank to a few metres, and wind gusts exceeded forecasts, producing whiteout conditions that disoriented hikers. The O Circuit, a 130–140 km loop around the Paine Massif, ranks among Patagonia’s most demanding trekking routes.
Around 10 a.m., the storm intensified, bringing near-horizontal snow, violent winds, and zero visibility. Hikers reached the exposed upper sections of John Garner Pass, above the treeline, and became separated. Some tried to retreat while others pressed forward, unaware of the storm’s strength. With heavy snow, freezing temperatures, and no shelter, five trekkers died: a Mexican couple, a German couple, and a British woman. Survivors later discovered the bodies near the top of the pass.
Safety Warnings and Park Response
Survivors reported that park staff had not communicated clear warnings about John Garner Pass. Employees described the weather as normal and failed to close the route despite worsening conditions. Stranded hikers initially organised their own rescue efforts, as no officials were nearby. CONAF, the National Forestry Corporation of Chile, oversees Torres del Paine, including trail monitoring, access control, and closures. Survival guides instruct visitors to follow rangers’ directions and check in at stations for trail updates, but these protocols failed during the blizzard.
Ranger Absence and Structural Challenges
High-season procedures require rangers to control entrances, monitor trails, and update hikers on risks. Survivor accounts revealed no rangers were near John Garner Pass during the storm. Many staff were absent to vote in Chile’s presidential election, reducing park presence by about half. CONAF confirmed that no rangers were in the critical Los Perros / John Garner Pass sector when the blizzard struck. Public reports indicated only about 51 personnel were on-site across the entire park.
Staffing shortages in Chile’s national park system persist. In 2025, 450 qualified rangers managed 13.2 million hectares of protected land. A 2018 Lincoln Institute report noted some parks operate with fewer than five employees. In June 2025, thousands of CONAF workers struck over administrative issues and resource shortages. Meanwhile, Argentinian rangers have been resigning rapidly under the Milei administration’s park reforms.
