Mount McKinley Climber Dies After Falling In Alaska

DENALI NATIONAL PARK and PRESERVE, Alaska -- National Park officials say a climber has died of injuries after falling during a climb of Alaska's Mount McKinley.

A park release Saturday says the climber fell about 1,100-feet Friday, while following the West Buttress route to the summit. Witnesses say the climber fell at about 16,200-feet. He was trying to recover a backpack that had started to slide downhill.

A park service mountaineering patrol was behind the climber's three-person team and called for a helicopter. The victim's body was flown to Talkeetna, Alaska, after rangers confirmed that the climber had died of injuries.

The victim's identity has not been released pending notification of family members overseas.

Mount McKinley is North America's highest mountain.

Friday's fatal fall is the first serious incident on McKinley during the 2012 mountaineering season.

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Comments

[Charles Howarth]

11:14 PM on 05/21/2012

The mountains are claiming their share this year. My respect to those lost.

[Tinsdale]

09:50 PM on 05/21/2012

Requiescat in pace et in amore.

A number of years ago, I had climbed this West Buttress Route on Denali (Mt. McKinley) .

Based on the altitude mentioned, I am guessing that this tragedy occurred while approaching a base staging area.

I am very surprised that his climbing tream was not roped.

[nckjm]

09:46 PM on 05/21/2012

The story is tragic; the heartless, insensitive comments are heartbreaking.

[skifastbadly]

04:10 PM on 05/21/2012

While the identity of the climber has not been released we can be pretty sure he was from Wisconsin, as his last words were "Hold my beer, I wanna try something."

[lk415]

02:59 PM on 05/21/2012

Accidents are always sad, but mountain climbers are fully aware of the risks they take. At least he died doing what he loved to do -- hopefully he didn't have any children. I'm surprised that this is the first climbing fatality on McKinley this year. Much smaller Mt. Hood in Oregon has many fatalities every year.

[Springer79]

03:38 PM on 05/21/2012

He loved plunging 1,100 feet to his death???

[lk415]

04:14 PM on 05/21/2012

No, but he was there by choice.

[Ernest Adams]

08:10 PM on 05/21/2012

I'll bet that stings...

[Cheapfoody]

02:47 PM on 05/21/2012

As any climber will tell you. It's not the fall that kills you, it that SUDDEN stop at the bottom that does!

[salamanca1]

01:37 PM on 05/21/2012

That's mountain climbing for ya.

[Ernest Adams]

08:11 PM on 05/21/2012

Sometimes you win... sometimes you fall 1,100 feet...

[Dogma]

12:19 PM on 05/21/2012

"He was trying to recover a backpack that had started to slide downhill."
___________

If that doesn't just send chills down your spine... Obviously there was someone there who watched him go after his pack.

[Ernest Adams]

08:12 PM on 05/21/2012

I wonder what was in the backpack....???

[Dogma]

01:07 AM on 05/22/2012

Just some warm socks and granola bars, probably...

[El Justiciero]

11:30 AM on 05/21/2012

Nobody in Alaska calls it Mt McKinley. It's DENALI, the BIG one.
Very sorry to the friends and family of the deceased. I hope they were livin the dream before they died. Oh, and if your backpack starts to fall somewhere like that. . . . just let it go. Just let it go.

[salamanca1]

01:37 PM on 05/21/2012

It is Denali.

[Afterschool Carl]

11:23 AM on 05/21/2012

I saw a documentary about people climbing another mountain in Alaska called Denali. Apparently it is even worse than Mt. McKinley.

[Philski]

11:51 AM on 05/21/2012

They are the SAME mountain....

[salamanca1]

01:38 PM on 05/21/2012

First fan, and faved.

[TheFabOne]

11:22 AM on 05/21/2012

...........If he fell, can you really say he was climbing?

[klincklanc]

11:17 AM on 05/21/2012

What could have been that valuable in that bag?

[Marciarita]

12:08 PM on 05/21/2012

Life saving stuff like food/water....

[Ernest Adams]

08:13 PM on 05/21/2012

Rope...???

[tjinc]

10:56 AM on 05/21/2012

I suppose if someone fell off Mount McKInley (Denali) it WOULD be in Alaska! Weird headline. Sorry about the climber.

[matmurp]

10:47 AM on 05/21/2012

No condemnation here. Only taking my hat off and mourning the loss of a fellow climber.

[Barry Laycock]

10:25 AM on 05/21/2012

One less fool to worry about.

[TBrown1948]

05:30 PM on 05/21/2012

Wow, I hope you never raise children.

[Ernest Adams]

08:15 PM on 05/21/2012

I hope he never raises children that decide to climb mountains...

[Barry Laycock]

10:46 AM on 05/23/2012

Did so already. Anyone arrogant  enough to climb such mountains without thinking it through and being thoroughly prepared desrves everything that happens to him or her. Why not just go play in the traffic and end it quickly?