The Sunday Read: ‘Ghosts on the Glacier’
Journey into the chilling depths of unsolved mysteries with "The Daily," where journalists John Branch, Judy Abramson, John Shelton, Daniel Araujo, and Ulysses Corvalon explore a haunting narrative set against the icy backdrop of Argentina's Mount Aconcagua. The focus: a 1973 American expedition on the Polish Glacier, an undertaking that spiraled into an eerie tale of tragedy, spectral legends, and cryptic clues that have become woven into the tapestry of local folklore. Listeners are offered an autopsy of an adventure that transformed into an enigma, leaving behind ghosts on the glacier.
Join as the episode unveils the chilling historical account of the ill-fated climbers, Janet Johnson and John Cooper. Despite their experience and determination, they vanished, leaving behind a constructed puzzle of bizarre evidence and injuries suggesting a climb that ended in controversy rather than an accident. Pieces of this puzzle continue to surface, such as Johnson’s camera, trapped within the ice for decades. Their story is a testament to the enduring power of the mountain’s unresolved secrets and the hope that emerges with new leads that could eventually shed light on the darkness cast over their fates.
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Spooky history of deaths on Polish Glacier expedition
On the 1973 American expedition on the Polish Glacier, Janet Johnson and John Cooper became part of a haunting narrative that has since evolved into mystery and folklore around Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. Initially viewed as a tragic accident, the later discovery of cryptic evidence resulted in ghost stories and unsolved mysteries that persist in the local Argentine culture.
Johnson, an experienced climber and Denver teacher, was recognized for her discipline and musical talents. Cooper, a NASA engineer and an accomplished outdoorsman, held significant climbing experience with summits of several renowned peaks. Along with six other American men with diverse backgrounds, they formed an eight-person crew with Janet as the last to join.
During their attempted ascent, they battled extraordinary conditions, including a lack of adequate gear like sleeping bags. Cooper was once saved by Johnson from being buried in snow. The team later split as some suffered from high-altitude sickness, which forced a retreat to base camp, leaving Johnson, Cooper, Zeller, and McMillan to press on. Johnson and Cooper disappeared and ultimately lost their lives on the glacier under ambiguous circumstances.
Years later, the discovery of their bodies cast a shadow of suspicion on the event. Both showed signs of injuries that suggested scenarios other than simple falls, hinting at possible foul play. Johnson's remains, discovered with peculiar injuries and her body positioned in a staged manner, posed questions of deliberate harm. Cooper’s recumbent body, missing climbing necessities and with unusual injuries like a cylindrical hole in his abdomen, further deepened the enigma.
The unpredictability of the incident fueled extensive speculation, ranging from spy intrigues to romantic entanglements. With hallucinations reported by Zeller and McMillan, the last to see them alive, the evidence became muddied, leaving the case unresolved.
Decades later, a renewed interest in the case arose when Johnson’s camera, encased in the receding glacier, was uncovered. Her surviving sister, Julie Abrahamson, hopes that the film might illuminate the truth about her sibling's last moments. Additional discoveries, such as old belongings and slides depicting Janet's climbing adventures, continue to piece together a narrative held captive by the lingering mystery of a grim and spooky historical event on the Polish Glacier.
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Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Mount Aconcagua is the highest mountain in both the Southern and Western Hemispheres, located in the Andes mountain range in Argentina. It is a popular destination for climbers due to its challenging terrain and impressive elevation. The mountain is known for its extreme weather conditions and has a rich history of expeditions and mountaineering feats.
- Janet Johnson's discipline referred to her strong work ethic, focus, and commitment to her goals. Her musical talents indicated her proficiency or skill in playing musical instruments or singing.
- John Cooper's climbing experience with summits of renowned peaks indicates that he had successfully reached the tops of well-known and challenging mountains before the Polish Glacier expedition. This background suggests that Cooper was an experienced and skilled climber, familiar with the demands and risks of high-altitude mountaineering. His previous summits would have provided him with valuable expertise and knowledge that could have been beneficial during the expedition on Mount Aconcagua. Cooper's past achievements in climbing renowned peaks highlight his proficiency in tackling difficult terrains and adverse conditions, showcasing his capability to navigate challenging environments like the one encountered on the Polish Glacier.
- The deaths of Janet Johnson and John Cooper on the Polish Glacier were surrounded by ambiguity due to the mysterious circumstances in which their bodies were found. Injuries on their bodies suggested scenarios beyond accidental falls, raising suspicions of foul play. The positioning of Johnson's body and the unusual injuries on Cooper added layers of complexity to the investigation, leaving the true cause of their deaths unresolved. Speculation, including theories of espionage and personal conflicts, further clouded the understanding of what truly transpired on the glacier.
- Speculation about spy intrigues and romantic entanglements in the context of the Polish Glacier expedition suggests that some people have theorized that the mysterious deaths of Janet Johnson and John Cooper could have been influenced by espionage activities or complicated romantic relationships. These theories imply that there may have been hidden motives or external factors at play beyond what was initially apparent, adding layers of intrigue to the already puzzling circumstances surrounding the expedition. Such speculations contribute to the ongoing fascination and speculation surrounding the unsolved mysteries of the tragic event.
- Zeller and McMillan reported experiencing hallucinations during the expedition. This means they saw or sensed things that were not actually present, which could have been caused by factors like extreme altitude, exhaustion, or environmental conditions. Hallucinations can distort reality and perception, leading individuals to perceive things that are not objectively there. In this context, the reported hallucinations added to the mysterious and unsettling nature of the events surrounding the disappearance of Janet Johnson and John Cooper.
- Janet Johnson's camera being encased in the receding glacier indicates that the camera was trapped or frozen within the ice as the glacier melted or moved over time. This preservation could have protected the camera and its contents from environmental damage, potentially holding valuable information or images related to the expedition. The discovery of the camera could offer new insights into the circumstances surrounding Janet Johnson and John Cooper's disappearance and deaths on the Polish Glacier. The camera's recovery may provide crucial visual evidence that could shed light on the mysterious events that transpired during the expedition.
- Julie Abrahamson is Janet Johnson's surviving sister.
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Spooky history of deaths on Polish Glacier expedition
The 1973 American expedition on the Polish Glacier involving Janet Johnson and John Cooper has become enshrined in mystery and folklore surrounding Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. While treated as a tragic accident in the United States, in Argentina, it inspired ghost stories and mystery due to the confounding details and cryptic evidence found years later.
Expedition members and backgrounds
Janet Johnson, a teacher from Denver, was an experienced climber known for her disciplined upbringing and musical abilities. She settled in Denver, working as a school librarian and climbed extensively, even planning to ascend Denali.
John Cooper, a NASA engineer who worked on the Apollo missions, was an outdoors enthusiast from Eldorado, Kansas, with a geological engineering degree from Oklahoma University. His experience included summits of Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and Popocatepetl, and he was also a smoke jumper and a decorated U.S. Coast Guard pilot.
The other six American men selected by expedition leader Defoe, with varied backgrounds from a psychiatrist to a police officer, also joined the excursion. Bill Eubank, a physician recommended by Petroski, served as the expedition's doctor.
The group, largely composed of weekend climbers with little to no experience at elevations over 20,000 feet, bonded over hikes arranged by Defoe. Janet was the last member to be announced to the eight-person crew.
Ascent unravels; Janet Johnson and John Cooper disappear
Internal dynamics within the expedition were tenuous from the start, and the team’s preparation seemed to lack a cohesive team attitude. Johnson and Cooper, along with their companions, faced extreme conditions as they attempted to climb. They lacked sleeping bags, and Cooper even needed to be unearthed from snow at one point by Johnson an hour before sunrise.
The group divided when high-altitude cerebral edema affected Petroski, forcing him and others, including Defoe and Eubank, back to base camp. Johnson, Cooper, Zeller, and McMillan pressed on, with Johnson and Cooper ultimately losing their lives on the glacier under mysterious circumstances.
Bodies found years later raise suspicions
Cooper decided to return alone and was later found dead, and Johnson also perished. Zeller and McMillan's accounts of the final hours differed, contributing to the mystery of their deaths. The discovery of their bodies years later only added to the macabre aura of the incident. Cooper’s body showed injuries inconsistent with falls, and Johnson's severe injuries suggested foul play, with a rock deliberately placed atop her body upon discovery.
The autopsies performed were traumatic and unusual, with Johnson's bearing evidence of repeated hammering with an ice ax over her boot and Cooper’s containing a skull fracture and a tubular hole reaching his spine.
Janet Johnson's body evidence suggests foul play
Daniel Araujo, then a medical student who assisted with the autopsies, recalled the strange nature of Johnson’s injuries. Her body was found entangled with ropes, one crampon missing, and with severe facial damage. Film canisters were also discovered in her knapsack.
John Cooper's body and belongings suggest mysteries
Cooper’s body, missing a crampon and without an ice axe, was f ...
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Spooky history of deaths on Polish Glacier expedition
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a severe condition that occurs at high altitudes when the brain swells with fluid due to lack of acclimatization. It can lead to disorientation, lethargy, and nausea, and if untreated, it can be fatal. Immediate descent to lower altitudes is crucial for treatment, along with supplemental oxygen and medications like dexamethasone. Preventative measures include gradual ascent and medications like acetazolamide to help the body adjust to high altitudes.
- Smoke jumpers are specially trained firefighters who parachute into remote wildland areas to combat wildfires. They are equipped to be self-sufficient for up to 48 hours after landing, carrying essential supplies and firefighting tools. This method allows for a rapid response to wildfires in inaccessible locations, helping to contain fires in their early stages. Smoke jumpers play a crucial role in wildland firefighting efforts, providing an initial attack response to protect forests and communities from the spread of wildfires.
- A decorated U.S. Coast Guard pilot is a pilot who has received recognition or awards for their exceptional service, skills, or achievements while serving in the United States Coast Guard aviation branch. These decorations could include medals, commendations, or other honors given for acts of bravery, leadership, or outstanding performance in the line of duty. Coast Guard pilots play a crucial role in various missions such as search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection, often operating in challenging maritime environments. The term "decorated" signifies that the pilot has been formally recognized for their exemplary contributions and accomplishments within the Coast Guard aviation community.
- Film canisters found in Janet Johnson's knapsack were containers typically used to store photographic film. In the context of the expedition, these film canisters suggest that Janet Johnson was carrying a camera to document their climb. The discovery ...
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