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

Three climbers from a Latvian mountaineering expedition died after falling Wednesday near Denali Pass on Mount McKinley. The fall occurred on a route with exposed sections, crevasses, steep ice, and exposed ridges, where many injuries and deaths have been recorded. Their bodies had not been recovered, and Denali National Park and Preserve rangers waited for weather to clear before attempting to reach them. Seven climbers were on the mountain; three others tended to the injured before returning to camp. The West Buttress route is the most popular summit path. More than 130 people have died on the mountain in the park’s history, and many deaths on the pass happen during descent.

"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. The three were members of a Latvian mountaineering expedition, the group said. They were traversing a route known for its exposed sections where many injuries and deaths have occurred when they fell Wednesday, the National Park Service said."

"Their bodies have not yet been recovered, the park service said. Denali National Park and Preserve rangers had to wait for the weather to clear before attempting to reach the climbers, who were in a group of seven on the mountain. Three others in the climbing group tended to those who fell before returning to camp, the park service said."

"The group was on the West Buttress route, the most popular path to the summit. It's known for its crevasses, steep ice and exposed ridges. More than 130 people have died on the mountain in the history of the park. Over the years, many climbing injuries and deaths have occurred on the traverse between Denali Pass and an area known as high camp at around 17,000 feet (5,180 meters), mainly resulting from unprotected falls, according to the park."

"Park rangers and mountain guides install and maintain snow pickets - which are used to help build anchors for extra protection on areas like steep slopes - between the high camp and Denali Pass. Only about 1,000 to 1,200 climbers attempt to reach the top of Mount McKinley each year, mostl"

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