Source : Perth Now news
Three climbers on Alaska’s Mount McKinley who fell near a treacherous pass on North America’s tallest peak have died, with a fourth climber rescued.
The four were members of a Latvian mountaineering expedition, a Latvian mountaineering group announced Friday.
They were part of a seven-person team traversing a route known for its exposed sections — where many injuries and deaths have occurred over the years — when they fell on Wednesday, the National Park Service said.
McKinley stands at 6200m and the climber who was rescued was brought off the mountain from around 5200m) by Denali National Park and Preserve search and rescue personnel on Thursday afternoon. A long line from a helicopter was used in the rescue because the terrain and conditions prevented the helicopter from landing, the park service said Friday. The climber was later flown to a hospital.
The fall happened during the climb near Denali Pass, which is about 5500m, the park service said. It provided few other details. The three others in the climbing group tended to those who fell before returning to a camp at around 5200m, the agency said.
Over the years, many climbing injuries and deaths have occurred on the traverse between an area known as high camp at around 5200m and Denali Pass, mainly resulting from unprotected falls, according to the park.
Most of the deaths along the pass have happened while climbers are descending.
Only about 1000 to 1200 climbers attempt to reach the top of Mount McKinley each year, mostly during May and June. The trip usually takes about 17 days, and less than half made it to the summit in 2025, according to park statistics.
More than 130 people have died on the mountain in the history of the park, including two deaths in 2025, according to park statistics.
