Three rock climbers died and a fourth was injured after a tragic fall in the North Cascades National Park in Washington on Sunday (May 11). The climbers, aged 36, 47, and 63, were from Renton, a suburb of Seattle. They were rappelling down a steep gully near North Early Winters Spire when their anchor point failed, causing them to fall approximately 400 feet, according to the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office.
The fourth climber, who survived, sustained internal bleeding and a traumatic brain injury. Despite his injuries, he managed to hike back to the trailhead and drove to Newhalem to call for help on a pay phone. He was later taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.
The group was descending after noticing a storm approaching. All four climbers were tied to the same anchor point, which is not recommended. Investigators are examining the equipment to determine if the anchor was pre-existing or their own gear. The investigation is ongoing to confirm the exact cause of the fall. The Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team assisted in recovering the bodies from the challenging terrain.
The Okanogan County Sheriff's Office expressed condolences to the families and friends of the victims and thanked the search and rescue volunteers for their assistance in this tragic incident.