3 climbers who fell near treacherous pass on Alaska's Mount McKinley are dead, 1 rescued [View all]

Source: AP News

By BECKY BOHRER and JOHN SEEWER
Updated 7:14 PM EDT, May 29, 2026

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Three climbers on Alaska’s Mount McKinley who fell near a treacherous pass on North America’s tallest peak have died, a Latvian mountaineering group announced Friday. A fourth climber was rescued.

The four were members of a Latvian mountaineering expedition, the group said. 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 Wednesday, the National Park Service has said.

McKinley stands at about 20,310 feet (6,190 meters), and the climber who was rescued was brought off the mountain from about 17,200 feet (5,240 meters) by Denali National Park and Preserve search and rescue personnel late 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 airlifted to a hospital.

The fall happened during the climb near Denali Pass, which is about 18,200 feet (5,550 meters), 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 about 17,000 feet (5,180 meters), the agency has said.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mount-mckinley-denali-climbers-deaths-d7c7be8ceb179ee7a5a4314ad4e8c88d