3 die in North Cascades National Park climbing fall

In North Cascades National Park, three climbers from suburban Seattle tragically lost their lives in a fall over the weekend, according to sheriff’s officials. The incident occurred about 16 miles west of Mazama in an area known for its popular rock formations. A group of four climbers from Renton was descending a steep gully near North Early Winters Spire when the accident happened. Sadly, three climbers aged 36, 47, and 63 died at the scene.

One of the climbers, the fourth person in the group, suffered internal bleeding and a traumatic brain injury in the fall but managed to free himself. He then walked to his car and drove to a nearby pay phone to seek help. The injured climber was later transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The severity of his injuries was not immediately apparent.

Authorities believe the accident may have been caused by an anchor failure during rappelling. A rescue operation was carried out by a helicopter team from Snohomish County to retrieve the bodies from the challenging terrain. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.