A rock climber miraculously survived a devastating fall of approximately 400 feet in Washington’s North Cascades mountains, while his three companions tragically lost their lives. After the accident, he bravely navigated his way back to his vehicle and then used a payphone to call for assistance, as reported by authorities on Tuesday.
The unidentified survivor managed to free himself from the tangled ropes, helmets, and equipment following the incident, despite suffering from internal bleeding and head trauma, according to Okanogan county undersheriff Dave Yarnell.
Such falls resulting in multiple fatalities are exceedingly rare, and many details surrounding the incident remain unknown, stated Cristina Woodworth, who leads the sheriff’s search and rescue team. Seven years ago, a similar tragic event occurred at Yosemite national park, where two climbers died after a fall on El Capitan.
The group of four, comprising individuals aged 36, 47, and 63, were scaling the Early Winters Spires, which are jagged peaks split by a cleft popular among climbers in the North Cascade range, situated around 160 miles northeast of Seattle. The surviving climber is currently hospitalized in Seattle.
The group’s misfortune occurred when the anchor securing their ropes seemingly failed as they were descending a steep gully to reach the spire’s base, Yarnell reported. They plummeted roughly 200 feet into a slanted gulch and then slid another 200 feet before coming to a stop. It is believed that the group turned back upon noticing an approaching storm.
A search and rescue team reached the crash site on Sunday, following coordinates provided by a friend of the climbers. Due to the challenging terrain, a helicopter was called in to transport the bodies one by one. On Monday, the responders carefully examined the recovered equipment to determine the cause of the fall and discovered an old and weathered piton, a metal spike used as an anchor, still attached to the climbers’ ropes. It is suspected that the piton’s age and weather condition contributed to its failure.
Rock climbers typically secure themselves to anchors, such as pitons or other climbing equipment, using ropes to prevent falls. Climbers usually employ backup anchors for added safety, explained Joshua Cole, a guide and co-owner of North Cascades Mountain Guides, who has been climbing in the area for approximately 20 years. It is considered unusual to rappel solely off a single piton, but further information is still needed to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities hope to gather more information from the surviving climber, Woodworth stated. The spires are a well-known climbing spot, with a route classified as moderately difficult, involving navigation through ice, snow, and rock. However, the weather’s impact can quickly alter the conditions, altering the route’s risks.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/13/washington-climbing-fall-survivor-north-cascades
