Three climbers have died and one has been rescued after falling 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 from Latvia 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 returned to camp after the fall, but poor weather delayed a helicopter response. On Thursday afternoon, a high-altitude helicopter was unable to land due to terrain and conditions, so rescuers used a long-line extraction to retrieve one climber, who was taken to a base camp and then airlifted to hospital.
The park service stated that operations for the remaining three climbers have transitioned from search and rescue to recovery. 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 20,310 feet (6,190 metres) and the climbing season runs from late April to mid-July. The National Park Service notes that injuries and accidents are common on the peak, and offers extensive guidelines for planning a summit.
