Fifty years ago, eight Americans set off for South America to climb Aconcagua, one of the world’s mightiest mountains. Things quickly went wrong. Two climbers died, and their bodies were left behind. Here is what was certain: A woman from Denver, maybe the most accomplished climber in the group, had last been seen alive on the glacier. A man from Texas, part of the recent Apollo missions to the moon, lay frozen nearby.

There were contradictory statements from survivors and a hasty departure. There was a judge who demanded an investigation into possible foul play. There were three years of summit-scratching searches to find and retrieve the bodies.

Now, decades later, a camera belonging to one of the deceased climbers has emerged from a receding glacier near the summit and one of mountaineering’s most enduring mysteries has been given air and light.

Video Director: Emily Rhyne
Cinematography: Noah Throop, Emily Rhyne, Pablo Betancourt
Video Editor: Emily Rhyne
Senior Video Producer: Jeesoo K. Park
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Story: John Branch
Additional Reporting: Pablo Betancourt, Nicolás García
Design: Tala Safie, Matt Ruby
Photography: Max Whittaker
Illustrations: Iris Legendre
Graphics: Scott Reinhard
Photo Editor: Becky Lebowitz Hanger
Story Editors: Mike Wilson, Jessica Schnall
Research: Alain Delaqueriere, Jack Begg