Foot, air search for 2 US mountaineers missing on Peru high peak

7/28/2012

LIMA, Peru — A search team is attempting to ascend the glacier-capped Peruvian peak where two U.S. mountaineers went missing in mid-July.

Rescue coordinator Ted Alexander said a private plane was also contracted to join Saturday's search on Palcaraju for 29-year-old Gil Weiss and 32-year-old Ben Horne.

Alexander says the climbing team set off before 3 a.m. under clear starry skies.

Weiss and Horne have not been heard from since July 11 when they set off to climb the 20,000-foot peak (6,100-meter) in the Cordillera Blanca range.

Searchers found the climbers' tent at 16,700 feet (5,100 meters) on Thursday and tracks coming off the summit as well as evidence of an avalanche.

An eight-man team from Peru's high-mountain rescue police unit was also involved in the effort.