Tragic Climbing Accident in North Cascades National Park

Tragic Climbing Accident in North Cascades National Park

Three climbers from suburban Seattle died in a fall 16 miles west of Mazama in North Cascades National Park on Sunday morning. The incident occurred in an area known for its rock formations popular with climbers.

Incident Details

  • A party of four climbers from Renton was involved in the fall while descending a steep gully near North Early Winters Spire.
  • The victims were aged 36, 47, and 63, and all died at the scene.
  • The fourth member of the group sustained:
    • Internal bleeding
    • A traumatic brain injury
  • Despite his injuries, he managed to free himself after the fall, walked to his car, and drove to a nearby pay phone to call for help.

Eyewitness Account

Okanogan County Undersheriff David Yarnell stated, "He didn’t realize he had as significant of internal injuries as he did. He’s lucky that he made it out."

Rescue Efforts

A helicopter rescue team from Snohomish County assisted with recovering the bodies from the technical mountainous terrain on Sunday afternoon.

Cause of the Incident

An anchor failure while rappelling is presumed to be the cause of the incident. An investigation into this tragic event is ongoing by park rangers and local authorities.

Recent Climbing Incidents

North Cascades National Park has seen several climbing incidents over recent years, including one last month when two experienced climbers were killed after falling off Mount Goode near Diablo Lake.

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