Authorities and friends are still searching for 31-year-old Portuguese mountain climber João Marinho, who went missing around two weeks ago while exploring Spain’s Picos de Europa mountains.
While family and friends remain hopeful that the mountain climber will be found, those who know of the harsh conditions felt at the Picos this time of year say it would be a “miracle” if Marinho was found alive.
“There was a horrible storm on the night the climber went missing,” Spanish shepherd from the Asturias, António Alonso, told Sic Notícias. “I was in my shed and it seemed as though the world was going to collapse over me.
“The only way he could be alive is if he found some kind of shelter. With the snow and cold temperatures that we’ve had these last weeks, he would not have survived out in the open,” said the shepherd.
A group consisting of 21 Spanish ‘Guardia Civil’ and 10 Portuguese GNR police officers as well as four volunteer mountain climbers were reported to still be looking for the man as we went to press on Wednesday (November 19), aided by two helicopters.
For the time being, searches are focusing on the popular “anillo de los refugios” route, which covers part of the mountain range covering Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León.
A map of the route was found on Marinho’s computer inside his parked car outside the hostel where he was staying at in Valdeón, León.
A photo taken by Marinho on November 4 and posted on his Facebook page is also helping searchers track his whereabouts.
It was set to be just another adventure for the Amarante climber, who is a self-described “mountain biker, trail runner and adventure sports addict” – with a Facebook page sporting over 9,000 ‘likes’.
However, Marinho’s family noticed something was wrong when he failed to return home on Friday (November 7) as scheduled. The last time his family spoke with him was through Skype on November 5.
Although he managed to balance his life as an electrical engineer and entrepreneur with his more radical hobbies, a friend admits Marinho may have taken on too much.
“It is a complicated mountain to climb and one that should only be explored by experienced mountain climbers,” he told Correio da Manhã newspaper.
The Asturias shepherd agreed: “During this time of year, you have to be very, very experienced to attempt exploring these mountains”.
With hundreds messages of hope filling Marinho’s Facebook page, it is still his last post (including a stunning photograph of Picos) dating back to November 4 that is touching many people’s hearts: “Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.”
