Climber Dies and Another Injured After 1,000-Foot Fall on Mount Johnson in Alaska

On a tragic Thursday night, a climbing incident resulted in one fatality and a serious injury on Mount Johnson in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve. The fall, which happened on the 8,400-foot (2,560-meter) Mount Johnson route known as “the Escalator” on the mountain's southeast face, occurred from a height of about 1,000 feet (305 meters) and was witnessed by another climbing party.

The witnessing party reported the fall at around 10:45 p.m. and descended to the location of the accident. Tragically, they confirmed the death of one climber. They tend to the injured climber and even constructed a snow cave to provide shelter.

Efforts for rescue were promptly initiated, and a rescue helicopter along with two mountaineering rangers left Talkeetna, the base of the park's mountaineering operations, early Friday. The injured climber was successfully rescued and later medevacked for additional medical care.

Recovery Challenges

However, due to deteriorating weather conditions, the recovery mission for the deceased climber was halted, and rangers were forced to return. Plans are in place to resume the recovery when conditions are more favorable. The tragic incident occurred at Denali National Park and Preserve, located around 240 miles (386 kilometers) north of Anchorage, Alaska.

The name of the deceased climber is being withheld pending the notification of family members. This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with navigating the steep, technical routes in the park.