Tragic Climbing Accident on Mount McKinley
Three members of a Latvian climbing team died in an accident on Mount McKinley, located in Alaska’s Denali National Park. A fourth climber was rescued but remains in critical condition, according to the Latvian Mountaineering Association.
Mount McKinley stands at 20,310 feet above sea level, marking the highest point in North America. The incident occurred on Wednesday at approximately 18,000 feet, as reported by the U.S. National Park Service. A rescue operation was launched on Thursday despite unstable, yet gradually improving, weather conditions.
On Friday morning, the Latvian Mountaineering Association identified the deceased climbers as Inese Pučeka, Vija Olte, and Renārs Kunigs-Salaks. Mārtiņš Bilzēns, the climber in critical condition, was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The Park Service had not yet confirmed the deaths or identified the individuals involved by Friday.
Locally, the mountain is known as Denali, its Alaska Native name. In the previous year, the Trump administration reinstated the mountain’s name in honor of former U.S. President William McKinley, who never visited the mountain and was assassinated in 1901.
The prime climbing season for Mount McKinley extends from late April to mid-July. Typically, climbers ascend in small, guided groups, and approximately 90 percent opt for the West Buttress route. The Park Service noted that over 500 climbers were on the mountain at the time.
Reports of the accident emerged on Thursday. The Park Service stated that four out of a seven-member expedition fell in the vicinity of Denali Pass. On Wednesday night, three members of the expedition returned to high camp after attempting to rescue their fellow climbers.
Denali Pass, positioned at 18,200 feet, lies between the high camp at 17,200 feet and the summit. This challenging portion of the climb is steep and icy, requiring teams to anchor themselves to fixed pickets placed every 90 feet. It is regarded as one of the climb’s most perilous sections.
John Branch, who covers various topics for The Times, including sports, climate, and politics, is based in California.