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Six climbers dead after Mount Rainier fall

Six climbers dead after Mount Rainier fall | iNFOnews.ca
The Liberty Ridge Area of Mount Rainier as viewed from the Carbon Glacier, Saturday, May 31, 2014, in Washington state. Six climbers missing on Mount Rainier are presumed dead after helicopters detected pings from emergency beacons buried in the snow thousands of feet below their last known location. Credit: AP Photo/National Park Service

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. – An official at Mount Rainier National Park says there are no plans Sunday to recover the bodies of six climbers who likely fell thousands of feet to their deaths.

Spokeswoman Patti Wold said continuous ice fall and rock fall make the area too dangerous for rescuers. She says the area will be checked periodically by air in coming weeks and months.

She says that "there's no certainty that recovery is possible given the location."

Park officials believe the group fell 3,300 feet from their last known whereabouts of 12,800 feet on Liberty Ridge. Air and ground searches were suspended late Saturday afternoon.

A helicopter crew on Saturday spotted camping and climbing gear in the avalanche-prone area.

The missing group includes four clients of Seattle-based Alpine Ascents International and two guides.

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Howard Alexander

Assistant Editor Howard Alexander comes to iNFOnews.ca from the broadcasting side of the media business.

Howard has been a reporter, news anchor, talk show host and news director, first in Saskatchewan and then the Okanagan.

He moved his family to Vernon in the 90s and is proud to call the Okanagan home.

If you have an event to share contact Howard at 250-309-5343or email halexander@infonews.ca.

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