Hong Kong climber unconscious, companion stranded on Japan's Gendarme peak as rescue thwarted by blizzard

Key facts

• A 30-year-old Hong Kong climber and a 22-year-old Japanese climber are stranded on the Gendarme peak (3,163 m) in Japan's Hida Mountains.
• unconscious after prolonged exposure to extreme cold.
• The pair ran out of food after being trapped longer than planned while rappelling.
• A distress call was received by the Hotakadake Sanso hut on Sunday afternoon.
• Gifu prefectural police's mountain rescue team attempted a rescue on Monday but was forced back by severe weather.
• A four-person team (police and civilian rescuers) plans to attempt rescue again on Tuesday; Nagano prefectural police are preparing a helicopter.
• At least two other climbers have died in the Japan Alps recently: a 58-year-old on Mount Hakuba and a 71-year-old on Mount Okuhotaka.
• Four Indonesian climbers are also stranded on Mount Hotakadake, with rescue delayed by bad weather.

Stranded on the Gendarme ridge

A 30-year-old Hong Kong climber and his 22-year-old Japanese companion are trapped on the Gendarme peak of the Hida Mountains, a 3,163-metre ridge in Japan's Northern Alps. One of the men is reportedly unconscious after prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, and the pair have run out of food, according to authorities and a friend who posted on social media. The climbers became stuck while rappelling down the mountain, their descent interrupted by a sudden deterioration in conditions. The friend, who posted coordinates and photos on Threads on Monday, said the men had been stranded longer than planned and urged them not to attempt descending but to find shelter. Photographs show dense fog, snow cover and steep, rocky terrain.

Rescue efforts blocked by severe weather

The Hotakadake Sanso hut received a distress call from the Japanese climber on Sunday afternoon, Japan's Nagoya TV reported. Gifu prefectural police's mountain rescue team attempted to reach the pair on Monday but was forced back by severe weather, with helicopters also unable to approach due to strong northwesterly winds and persistent rain or snow. A four-person team comprising police and civilian rescuers plans to set out again on Tuesday. Nagano prefectural police are also preparing a helicopter for a potential deployment on Tuesday. The repeated delays underscore the perilous conditions at altitude, where early summer snow lingers and weather can shift abruptly.

Hong Kong authorities mobilise consular support

Hong Kong's Immigration Department confirmed it has received a request for help and is in contact with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong and the Chinese Consulate-General in Nagoya to provide assistance. The friend's social media appeal, written in both Chinese and Japanese, called for any hikers nearby to help, but the remote location and extreme weather have limited the possibility of immediate aid. The stranded climbers' identities have not been officially released, but the friend's posts indicate the Hong Kong climber is 30 and the Japanese climber is 22. The friend shared coordinates and images showing the upper slopes shrouded in fog, with patches of snow and climbing gear visible.

Recent fatalities and other stranded climbers in the Japan Alps

At least two other climbers have died in the Japan Alps in recent days: a 58-year-old man on Mount Hakuba and a 71-year-old man on Mount Okuhotaka. In a separate incident, four Indonesian climbers are also stranded on Mount Hotakadake, with rescue likewise delayed by bad weather. The Gendarme ridge lies between Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture and Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. Of Japan's 21 peaks exceeding 3,000 metres, 10 are located within the Hida range. Despite the arrival of May, snow often remains at higher elevations, and mountain weather can change rapidly and without warning. The current forecast indicates strong northwesterly winds and persistent rain or snow, conditions that have already thwarted multiple rescue attempts.

Outlook: rescue window narrows as conditions persist

The immediate priority for rescue teams is to reach the stranded climbers before their condition deteriorates further. unconscious and supplies exhausted, time is critical. However, the same weather system that has grounded helicopters and forced back ground teams shows no sign of abating, according to forecasts. The involvement of both Gifu and Nagano prefectural police, along with civilian rescuers, indicates a coordinated effort, but the mountainous terrain and persistent blizzard conditions limit what can be achieved. The friend's plea for assistance from any nearby hikers reflects the desperation of the situation, though the remote location and severe weather make it unlikely that independent climbers could provide effective help. The coming hours will determine whether the planned Tuesday rescue can succeed where Monday's attempt failed.

The bottom line

• A Hong Kong climber and a Japanese climber are stranded on the Gendarme peak at 3,163 m; one is unconscious and they have no food.
• Rescue attempts on Monday were aborted due to severe weather; a new attempt is planned for Tuesday with a four-person team and a helicopter on standby.
• At least two other climbers have died in the Japan Alps recently, and four Indonesian climbers are also stranded on Mount Hotakadake.
• Hong Kong's Immigration Department is coordinating with Chinese consular officials in Nagoya to assist.
• The Hida Mountains remain treacherous in early summer, with lingering snow and rapidly changing weather conditions.