DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaskan news agencies reported that a ranger from Enumclaw, Washington, fell into a crevasse on North America’s tallest mountain, Mount McKinley, and died despite immediate rescue efforts.
Seasonal mountaineering ranger Robin Pendery was assigned to patrol the rugged terrain of Denali National Park. She fell during a climbing patrol on Thursday, and emergency teams were unable to save her.
The death is currently under investigation. It comes only a week after three climbers from a Latvian expedition died when they fell near a treacherous pass on the same peak, with a fourth climber being rescued. The team was traversing a route notorious for exposed sections, an area that has seen many fatalities and injuries over the years.
Mount McKinley, now officially known as Denali, rises to about 20,310 feet (6,190 meters). Pendery’s fall occurred near the 14,000‑foot (4,328‑meter) camp, a well‑known location for climbers on the mountain.
Our mountaineering rangers dedicate themselves to serving visitors and helping others in one of the most challenging environments in the world, Denali Superintendent Brooke Merrell said. Today, we mourn the loss of a valued colleague, friend and teammate.
