A landscape that remains fundamentally indifferent to human ambition
En las primeras horas del martes, los equipos de rescate encontraron los cuerpos de Abril Melina Marino Pereira, una joven uruguaya de 25 años, y Emiliano Feidas, guía de montaña de 40 años con vasta experiencia en la Patagonia, tras una caída en el Glaciar Vinciguerra, al norte de Ushuaia. Lo que comenzó como una excursión programada se convirtió en tragedia cuando ambos desaparecieron la noche del 1° de junio, mientras vientos feroces y visibilidad casi nula retrasaban las operaciones de búsqueda. Su muerte recuerda que la montaña no distingue entre el novato y el experto, y que la belleza extrema de la Tierra del Fuego exige de quienes la transitan una humildad que ningún equipamiento puede reemplazar.
- Una turista uruguaya y un guía local experimentado desaparecieron en uno de los tramos más exigentes del Glaciar Vinciguerra, desencadenando una búsqueda nocturna en condiciones extremas.
- Ráfagas de viento y visibilidad casi nula convirtieron el rescate en una operación de alto riesgo para los propios equipos especializados en glaciares.
- Los cuerpos fueron hallados cerca del punto más alto del sendero, en una zona de acceso tan difícil que solo profesionales entrenados en rescate glaciar podían alcanzarla.
- La muerte de Feidas sacudió a la pequeña comunidad montañista de Ushuaia, donde era una figura reconocida, mientras la cancillería uruguaya asiste a la familia de Marino Pereira.
- El incidente, ocurrido en plena temporada turística alta, reaviva el debate sobre los límites reales del trekking en glaciares y la responsabilidad de operadores y visitantes ante un entorno que no perdona errores.
La noche del 1° de junio, Abril Melina Marino Pereira —25 años, uruguaya, de vacaciones en Argentina— y Emiliano Feidas —40 años, guía de montaña con años de recorrido en la Patagonia— partieron hacia el Glaciar Vinciguerra, al norte de Ushuaia, en una excursión que debía ser una más entre las muchas que Feidas había liderado. No regresaron a la hora prevista. Las autoridades locales iniciaron la búsqueda esa misma noche, pero el glaciar los recibió con vientos cortantes y visibilidad casi inexistente. Equipos especializados avanzaron durante horas por un laberinto de grietas, pendientes y suelo inestable hasta encontrar los cuerpos en las primeras horas del martes, cerca del punto más alto del sendero.
El Glaciar Vinciguerra es uno de los atractivos más visitados de Ushuaia: una jornada completa de ocho a nueve horas que asciende unos 600 metros desde el Valle de Andorra, atraviesa bosque fueguino y terreno pantanoso, y culmina sobre el hielo, donde el uso de crampones y bastones es obligatorio. No es una excursión para cualquiera, y Feidas lo sabía mejor que nadie. Era una figura conocida en la comunidad montañista de la ciudad, alguien que había guiado a incontables grupos por esas mismas montañas. Su muerte dejó un vacío que sus colegas no tardaron en hacer sentir.
Las investigaciones apuntan a que ambos cayeron varios metros en algún tramo del recorrido, aunque el alcance exacto de lo ocurrido aún se está determinando. El resto del grupo organizado salió ileso. Mientras tanto, la cancillería uruguaya acompaña a la familia de Marino Pereira en el proceso de repatriación y duelo.
El accidente llegó en plena temporada alta, cuando Ushuaia recibe miles de visitantes atraídos por la promesa de aventura en uno de los paisajes más remotos del mundo. Los operadores turísticos de la región insisten en la importancia de los guías habilitados, el equipamiento adecuado y el respeto por los protocolos de seguridad. El glaciar permanecerá abierto, pero esta semana dejó una certeza incómoda: ni la experiencia ni la preparación eliminan del todo el riesgo de moverse sobre hielo y piedra en un territorio que permanece indiferente a la ambición humana.
On the evening of June 1st, a 25-year-old Uruguayan woman named Abril Melina Marino Pereira and Emiliano Feidas, a 40-year-old mountain guide who had spent years leading groups through the Patagonian wilderness, set out on what should have been a routine trek across the Vinciguerra Glacier north of Ushuaia. By the time rescue teams found them in the early hours of Tuesday morning, both were dead—victims of a fall that occurred somewhere along one of the most demanding stretches of the route.
The alarm came when the pair failed to return at the expected time. Local authorities launched search operations that same night, but the conditions were brutal. Wind gusts tore across the glacier, visibility dropped to nearly nothing, and the terrain itself—a maze of ice fissures, steep slopes, and unstable ground—made every step treacherous for the rescue teams. It took hours of searching through the darkness before the specialized mountaineering crews located the bodies near the highest point of the trail, in an area so difficult to access that it required the full expertise of professionals trained in glacier rescue.
Vinciguerra Glacier is one of Ushuaia's most popular attractions, drawing thousands of visitors each year who come to experience the raw beauty of Tierra del Fuego. The trek itself is a full day's commitment—eight to nine hours of walking that begins in the Valle de Andorra, passes through dense Fuegian forest and boggy terrain, climbs roughly 600 meters in elevation, and culminates on the ice itself. Crampons and trekking poles are mandatory for the glacial section. Local guides recommend it only for people in solid physical condition. Feidas was not some casual operator; he was a known figure in Ushuaia's climbing community, someone who had guided countless groups safely through these mountains.
Investigators are working from the assumption that both fell several meters during the trek—a plausible scenario given the route's inherent dangers. The glacier presents constant hazards: sudden cracks in the ice, unpredictable weather shifts, and sections where a single misstep can be fatal. No other members of the organized tour were injured, and rescue teams prioritized their own safety as they worked through the storm. By the time forensic specialists arrived to begin their investigation, the full scope of what had happened remained unclear.
The death of Feidas sent shockwaves through Ushuaia's small mountaineering community. He was not just a guide; he was part of the fabric of the region's outdoor culture. Marino Pereira, meanwhile, had been on holiday in Argentina when she decided to take the trek. Her family in Uruguay is now being assisted by the country's foreign ministry as they process the loss.
The incident arrives during peak tourist season, when Ushuaia is crowded with visitors drawn by the promise of adventure in one of the world's most remote and dramatic landscapes. Tourism operators in the region have been quick to emphasize the importance of following safety protocols, using only credentialed guides, and understanding the real limits of what these activities demand. The Vinciguerra Glacier will remain open, but this week's tragedy has underscored a hard truth: no amount of experience or preparation can eliminate the risks of moving across ice and stone in a landscape that remains fundamentally indifferent to human ambition. Authorities say investigations are ongoing to determine exactly what went wrong.
Notable Quotes
Local guides recommend the trek only for people in solid physical condition— Ushuaia tourism operators
The terrain presents constant hazards: sudden cracks in ice, unpredictable weather shifts, and sections where a single misstep can be fatal— Glacier safety assessment
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a single accident on one glacier matter enough to tell this story?
Because it happened to someone who knew what she was doing—or at least, she was with someone who did. Feidas had guided groups for years. This wasn't recklessness; it was a calculated risk that went wrong. That's the story.
What makes the Vinciguerra Glacier different from other treks in the region?
It's the most popular one, which means the most people are on it. But it's also genuinely difficult—600 meters of elevation gain, ice, sudden weather. It's not a walk. The fact that it's accessible makes people think it's safe, but accessible and safe are different things.
The rescue took hours in bad weather. Did that delay matter?
By the time they were found, both were already dead. So no—the delay didn't change the outcome. But it shows you how exposed these places are. You can't just call a helicopter in a whiteout.
What does Feidas's death mean for the community there?
He was known. He had a reputation. When someone like that dies doing what they've always done, it makes people question whether they really understand the risks, or whether they've just gotten lucky until they didn't.
Will this change how the glacier is managed?
Probably not much. Tourism is the economy there. They'll talk about safety, credentialed guides, better training. But people will keep going. The glacier will still be beautiful and still be dangerous.