The body of a deceased climber has been recovered at Denali National Park, the United States National Park Service confirmed on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Robbi Mecus of Keene Valley, New York.
According to a Park Service investigation, Mecus was climbing Mount Johnson, a peak adjacent to the highest mountain in North America, Denali. Mecus was roped with another climbing partner.
Both climbers fell while trying to ascend a particularly steep and dangerous part of the ascent called “the Escalator” which is normally covered in ice and snow. Mecus was killed in the roughly 1,000-foot (300-meter) fall while the other climber survived with serious injuries.
“The two women were roped while climbing a steep route of mixed rock, ice, and snow,” NPS said. “Another climbing party on the peak witnessed the fall and notified park rangers.”
The NPS report said the other climbing party reached Mecus and the surviving climber. That group kept the survivor warm overnight until a rescue crew arrived by helicopter.
The accident occurred last Thursday. NPS said weather prevented the rescue team from recovering Mecus’ body earlier.
“Deteriorating weather conditions prevented the pilot and rangers from returning to the accident site on Friday,” NPS said. “On Saturday morning at 8:00 am, weather permitted the park’s helicopter pilot and mountaineering rangers to return to Mt. Johnson to recover the body of the climber.”
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Park Info
Park Name:
Denali National Park and Preserve
Location:
Alaska, USA
More Information: https://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm
