Sunday, June 1, 2014

6 Climbers Declared Dead After Fall On Seattle's Mount Rainier

It was the worst disaster there in more than 30 years, officials say.

TED S. WARREN / AP FILE

Six climbers were killed in a 3,300-foot fall along the north slope of Mount Rainier, officials said Saturday. It was the worst disaster on the mountain in more than three decades.

Tents and clothes mixed with rock and ice were found along the glacier at 9,500 feet, the National Park Service said.

Citing continuous ice and rock fall that make the area dangerous even for rescuers, Mount Rainier National Park officials said that there were no plans to recover the bodies of the six climbers.

The area will be checked periodically by air in the coming weeks and months, park spokeswoman Patti Wold told the Associated Press.

"It's inconceivable that anyone survived that," Wold said Sunday. She said it was unclear if a rock fall, avalanche or other factors caused their fall, she said, adding that "we don't even know if they were moving or if they were camping."

The six climbers included two guides from the Seattle-based company Alpine Ascents International, and four clients. The group was last heard from at 6 p.m. Wednesday.