Climber dies after falling 1,000 ft near summit of Alaska’s Mount Johnson and their body can’t be moved due to severe weather as hiking partner suffers ‘serious traumatic injuries’
- The two-man team had climbed to the top on Thursday evening
- Both individuals fell nearly 300 meters down a route known as ‘the escalator’
- Due to weather conditions, crews were unable to reach the dead climber’s body
A mountain climber has died and another was seriously injured after falling nearly 1,000 feet from the summit of Alaska’s Mount Johnson.
The two-man team had climbed the 8,000-foot peak in Denali National Park on Thursday evening.
Both individuals were tethered and climbed a summit route known as “the escalator,” a steep, technical climb on the southeast side of the mountain.
Another climbing party witnessed the fall and alerted the Alaska Regional Communication Center shortly before 11 p.m.
The climbing party that saw the fall then descended to reach the two climbers and confirmed that one of them had died.
The two-man team had climbed the 8,000-foot peak in Denali National Park on Thursday night when they fell 1,000 feet. X marks where they were found
Emergency workers who arrived on the scene dug a snow cave and worked all night on the surviving climber’s injuries.
The park’s rescue helicopter conducted a reconnaissance flight of the area at 7 a.m. the next morning, with a mountaineer standing in a long queue ahead of the climbers.
Both the ranger and the injured climber were then dragged out before being taken to a separate helicopter for a flight to Talkeetna State Airport.
Later on Friday, the park helicopter and two other rangers returned to recover the body of the deceased climber.
Severe weather and increasing cloud cover forced them to turn back, with the rangers returning as soon as weather conditions permitted.
The National Park Service said in their statement that the identity of the deceased is being withheld until family members are notified.
Mount Johnson is notable for its north face, with more than 4,000 feet of vertically steep granite forming part of the escalator.
The mountain is located in Denali National Park and Reserve, home to Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, seen here
The National Park Service said in their statement that the identity of the deceased is being withheld until family members are notified
The first ascent took place in 1979, when winter temperatures dropped to -10 Fahrenheit and wind chills reached -20 degrees.
The mountain is located in Denali National Park and Reserve, home to Denali, North America’s highest mountain.