Pungkas Tri Baruno Tribute

Pungkas Tri Baruno, 20 year old Indonesian from Jakarta, healthy and fit man, died suddenly on a guided trip to Mount McKinle, the highest mountain of North America on Monday night. Why did he collapse near the top of the big mountain? He was a fit mountaineer, who climbed volcanoes in Indonesia before.

He was one of three young climbers on an expedition connected with the country's national scouting organization. The expedition started in mid-June. Pungkas made it to the 20,320 foot summit Monday and almost back to high camp at 17,200 feet. He descended the West Buttress route slowly but steadily. His guide kept asking him whether he felt nauseous or dizzy. He said he didn't feel sick

Then, roped to his guide, maybe 15 minutes from camp, Pungkas told his guide: "I can't go on", then collapsed. The others had gone ahead. His guide radioed for help, then he and other guides spent more than an hour trying to revive him. But they couldn't bring him back.


It is so terrible that such a wonderful young life is taken away so suddenly.
Our condolences go to the boy's family.