Authorities say one climber is dead and another seriously injured after falling about 1,000 feet while taking a steep, technical route on Mount Johnson in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A climber died and another was seriously injured after falling about 1,000 feet while hiking a steep, technical route on Mount Johnson in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve, authorities said Friday.
Thursday evening’s fall was observed by another group of climbers, who reported it around 10:45 p.m. and descended to where the climbers had fallen. They confirmed that one of the climbers was dead, and that they dug a cave in the snow and treated the injured climber, according to a park statement.
Early Friday, a rescue helicopter and two mountaineering rangers left Talkeetna, where the park’s mountaineering operations are based. They were able to rescue the injured climber, who was then medevaced to receive further treatment. The helicopter and rangers returned to the mountain later to recover the body of the deceased climber but were forced to leave again due to deteriorating weather conditions, the statement said. The Rangers plan to return when conditions permit, the park said.
The name of the deceased climber was not immediately released, pending notification of family.
The fall occurred on an 8,400-foot (2,560-meter) Mount Johnson route, known as “the Escalator” on the mountain’s southeast face. The route involves navigating steep rocks, ice and snow, the park said.
Denali National Park and Preserve is approximately 386 kilometers north of Anchorage.
ABC News
