Authorities say a helicopter crew has recovered the body of a climber who died after falling about 1,000 feet on a steep, technical route on Mount Johnson in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve.
ANKERAGE, Alaska — A helicopter crew on Saturday recovered the body of a climber who died after falling about 1,000 feet (305 meters) on a steep, technical route on Mount Johnson in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve, park officials said in a statement.
Robbi Mecus, 52, of Keene Valley, New York, died Thursday from injuries suffered in a fall while climbing a route on the southeast side of 8,000-foot Mount Johnson, the park said. His climbing partner, a 30-year-old woman from California, was seriously injured and was rescued and flown to a hospital in Anchorage on Friday, park officials said.
Another climbing party witnessed the fall and reported it around 10:45 PM on Thursday. They descended to where the climbers had fallen and confirmed that one had died. They dug a snow cave and treated the injured climber, according to a statement from the park.
On Friday morning, a rescue helicopter and two mountaineers were able to rescue the injured climber, who was later taken for additional care. The helicopter and rangers later returned to the mountain to recover the body of the climber, who died but was forced back by the worsening weather, the statement said. Better weather Saturday morning allowed the helicopter to return and recover Mecus’ body, the park said.
