Three climbers on Alaska’s Mount McKinley died after falling near Denali Pass, a high and dangerous section on North America’s tallest peak, according to a Latvian mountaineering group and the National Park Service. A fourth climber from the same expedition was rescued by Denali National Park and Preserve search and rescue personnel late Thursday afternoon, the park service said.
The incident involved members of a seven-person Latvian expedition traveling the West Buttress route, the most commonly used path to the summit. The route is known for crevasses, steep ice, and exposed ridges, making it one of the most challenging and hazardous climbing routes on the mountain. The fall occurred Wednesday near Denali Pass, at an elevation of about 18,200 feet, while Mount McKinley rises to about 20,310 feet.
According to the park service, the three climbers who did not fall remained with those who were injured before returning to camp. The exact circumstances of the accident were not immediately detailed, but the area between high camp and Denali Pass has long been considered especially dangerous because of unprotected falls. Park officials said many injuries and deaths have occurred there over the years, particularly during descents.
Snow pickets are installed and maintained by park rangers and mountain guides along this section to help climbers build anchors and gain extra protection on steep terrain. Even with those measures, the traverse remains one of the most hazardous parts of the climb. More than 130 people have died on the mountain in the park’s history.
Only about 1,000 to 1,200 climbers attempt Mount McKinley each year, most of them in May and June. The ascent typically takes about 17 days, and fewer than half of climbers reached the summit last year, according to park statistics. Last year, two skiers died on the mountain, and rangers evacuated 16 people.
As of Thursday, 516 climbers were on the mountain, according to park service spokesperson Scott Carr. Two other climbers who were not part of the Latvian group were evacuated by helicopter on Wednesday.
The deaths underscore the risks of climbing Denali, where weather, altitude, and difficult terrain combine to create severe danger even for experienced mountaineers. Park officials continue to monitor conditions and conduct rescue operations as needed on the mountain’s busiest climbing season.
