Three climbers have died and one has been rescued after a fall on Alaska’s Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, North America’s tallest mountain. The four were part of a seven-person group that had travelled to the United States to ascend the peak, according to the Latvian Mountaineering Association.
The accident occurred at Denali Pass on Wednesday, the National Park Service said. Three of the climbers initially returned to camp after the fall, but poor weather prevented an immediate helicopter response. On Friday, the park service announced that one climber was rescued on Thursday afternoon using a long-line extraction, as a high-altitude helicopter could not land due to terrain and conditions. The climber was taken to a base camp and then airlifted to hospital.
The park service said operations for the remaining three climbers had transitioned from a search and rescue mission to a recovery effort. The Latvian Mountaineering Association identified the deceased as Inese Pučeka, Vija Olte and Renārs Kunigs-Salaks, describing them as talented and experienced climbers. The injured climber, Mārtiņš Bilzēns, was evacuated in critical condition.
Mount McKinley rises to 20,310ft (6,190 metres) and accidents are common during the climbing season, which runs from late April to mid-July. The National Park Service provides extensive safety guidelines for those planning a summit.
