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The Independent
14-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
How one rock climber escaped a 400-foot fall that killed three friends
A rock climber has managed to survive and escape a 400-foot fall in Washington's North Cascades mountains that killed his three companions, authorities said on Tuesday. After extricating himself from a tangle of ropes, helmets and other equipment, the climber trekked to his car in the dark and drove to a pay phone to call for help despite suffering internal bleeding and head trauma, Okanogan County Undersheriff Dave Yarnell said. The four climbers were descending a steep gully when the accident occurred. While details remain scarce, the leader of the sheriff's search and rescue team, Cristina Woodworth, said falls like this, leading to three deaths, are extremely rare. The group of four — including the victims, aged 36, 47 and 63 — were scaling the Early Winters Spires, jagged peaks split by a cleft that's popular with climbers in the North Cascade Range, about 160 miles northeast of Seattle. The surviving climber was hospitalized in Seattle. The group of four met with disaster that night when the anchor securing their ropes appeared to have failed as they were descending in a steep gully, trying to reach the spire's base, Yarnell said. They plummeted for about 200 feet into a slanted gulch and then tumbled another 200 feet before coming to rest, he said. Authorities believe the group had been ascending but turned around when they saw a storm approaching. Woodworth said a three-person search and rescue team reached the site on Sunday. The team used coordinates from a device the climbers had been carrying, which had been shared by a friend of the men. Once they found the site, they called in a helicopter to remove the bodies one at a time because of the rough terrain, Woodworth said. On Monday, responders poured over the recovered equipment, trying to decipher what caused the fall, Woodworth said. They found a piton — basically a small metal spike that is driven into rock cracks or ice and used as anchors by climbers — that was still clipped into the climbers' ropes. Pitons are often times left in walls. They can be there for years or even decades, and they may become less secure over time. 'It looked old and weathered, and the rest of their equipment looked newer, so we are making the assumption that it was an old piton,' Woodworth said. Rock climbers secure themselves by ropes to anchors, such as pitons or other climbing equipment. The ropes are intended to arrest their fall if they should slip, and typically climbers use backup anchors, said Joshua Cole, a guide and co-owner of North Cascades Mountain Guides, who has been climbing in the area for about 20 years. Generally, it would be unusual to rappel off a single piton, said Cole, adding that it is still unknown exactly what happened on the wall that night. 'We eventually, if possible, would like to get more information from the surviving party,' Woodworth said. The spires are a popular climbing spot. The route the climbers were taking, said Cole, was of moderate difficulty and required moving between ice, snow and rock. But the conditions, the amount of ice versus rock, for example, can change rapidly with the weather, he said, even week to week or day to day, changing the route's risks.
Toronto Sun
14-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Three climbers fell 400 feet to their death. One climber survived and drove to a pay phone
Published May 13, 2025 • 3 minute read The Okanogan County Search and Rescue team responds to a climbing accident in the North Cascades mountains in Washington on Sunday, May 11, 2025. Photo by Okanogan County Sheriff's Office via AP / AP A rock climber who fell an estimated 400 feet while descending a steep gully in Washington's North Cascades mountains survived the fall that killed his three companions, hiked to his car in the dark and then drove to a pay phone to call for help, authorities said Tuesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The surviving climber, who has not been publicly identified, extricated himself from a tangle of ropes, helmets and other equipment after the accident and made the trek despite suffering internal bleeding and head trauma, Okanogan County Undersheriff Dave Yarnell said. Falls like this leading to three deaths are extremely rare, and many details about what led up to it still aren't known, said Cristina Woodworth, who leads the sheriff's search and rescue team. Seven years ago, two climbers were killed in a fall on El Capitan at Yosemite National Park. The group of four — including the victims, aged 36, 47 and 63 — were scaling the Early Winters Spires, jagged peaks split by a cleft that's popular with climbers in the North Cascade Range, about 160 miles northeast of Seattle. The surviving climber was hospitalized in Seattle. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The group of four met with disaster that night when the anchor securing their ropes appears to have failed as they were descending in a steep gully, trying to reach the spire's base, Yarnell said. They plummeted for about 200 feet into a slanted gulch and then tumbled another 200 feet before coming to rest, he said. Authorities believe the group had been ascending but turned around when they saw a storm approaching. A three-person search and rescue team reached the site of the fall Sunday, Woodworth said. The team used coordinates from a device the climbers had been carrying, which had been shared by a friend of the men. Once they found the site, they called in a helicopter to remove the bodies one at a time because of the rough terrain, Woodworth said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On Monday, responders poured over the recovered equipment trying to decipher what caused the fall, Woodworth said. They found a piton — basically a small metal spike that is driven into rock cracks or ice and used as anchors by climbers — that was still clipped into the climbers' ropes. Pitons are oftentimes left in walls. They can be there for years or even decades, and they may become less secure over time. 'It looked old and weathered, and the rest of their equipment looked newer, so we are making the assumption that it was an old piton,' Woodworth said. Rock climbers secure themselves by ropes to anchors, such as pitons or other climbing equipment. The ropes are intended to arrest their fall if they should slip, and typically climbers use backup anchors, said Joshua Cole, a guide and co-owner of North Cascades Mountain Guides, who has been climbing in the area for about 20 years. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Generally, it would be unusual to rappel off a single piton, said Cole, adding that it is still unknown exactly what happened on the wall that night. 'We eventually, if possible, would like to get more information from surviving party,' Woodworth said. The spires are a popular climbing spot. The route the climbers were taking, said Cole, was of moderate difficulty, and requires moving between ice, snow and rock. But the conditions, the amount of ice versus rock for example, can change rapidly with the weather, he said, even week to week or day to day, changing the route's risks. — Bedayn reported from Denver. Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists NHL World Sports
The Independent
13-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Three climbers fell 400 feet to their death. One climber survived and drove to a payphone
A rock climber who fell an estimated 400 feet while descending a steep gully in Washington 's North Cascades mountains survived the fall that killed his three companions, hiked to his car in the dark and then drove to a pay phone to call for help, authorities said Tuesday. The surviving climber, who has not been publicly identified, extricated himself from a tangle of ropes, helmets and other equipment after the accident and made the trek despite suffering internal bleeding and head trauma, Okanogan County Undersheriff Dave Yarnell said. Falls like this leading to three deaths are extremely rare, and many details about what led up to it still aren't known, said Cristina Woodworth, who leads the sheriff's search and rescue team. Seven years ago, two climbers were killed in a fall on El Capitan at Yosemite National Park. The group of four — including the victims, aged 36, 47 and 63 — were scaling the Early Winters Spires, jagged peaks split by a cleft that's popular with climbers in the North Cascade Range, about 160 miles northeast of Seattle. The surviving climber was hospitalized in Seattle. The group of four met with disaster that night when the anchor securing their ropes appears to have failed as they were descending in a steep gully, trying to reach the spire's base, Yarnell said. They plummeted for about 200 feet into a slanted gulch and then tumbled another 200 feet before coming to rest, he said. Authorities believe the group had been ascending but turned around when they saw a storm approaching. A three-person search and rescue team reached the site of the fall Sunday, Woodworth said. The team used coordinates from a device the climbers had been carrying, which had been shared by a friend of the men. Once they found the site, they called in a helicopter to remove the bodies one at a time because of the rough terrain, Woodworth said. On Monday, responders poured over the recovered equipment trying to decipher what caused the fall, Woodworth said. They found a piton — basically a small metal spike that is driven into rock cracks or ice and used as anchors by climbers — that was still clipped into the climbers' ropes. Pitons are oftentimes left in walls. They can be there for years or even decades, and they may become less secure over time. 'It looked old and weathered, and the rest of their equipment looked newer, so we are making the assumption that it was an old piton,' Woodworth said. Rock climbers secure themselves by ropes to anchors, such as pitons or other climbing equipment. The ropes are intended to arrest their fall if they should slip, and typically climbers use backup anchors, said Joshua Cole, a guide and co-owner of North Cascades Mountain Guides, who has been climbing in the area for about 20 years. Generally, it would be unusual to rappel off a single piton, said Cole, adding that it is still unknown exactly what happened on the wall that night. 'We eventually, if possible, would like to get more information from surviving party,' Woodworth said. The spires are a popular climbing spot. The route the climbers were taking, said Cole, was of moderate difficulty, and requires moving between ice, snow and rock. But the conditions, the amount of ice versus rock for example, can change rapidly with the weather, he said, even week to week or day to day, changing the route's risks. ___
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Three climbers killed after falling 400ft during descent in Washington State
Three rock climbers were killed last weekend as they rappelled down a mountain when their anchor failed, causing them to fall 400 feet during a descent in the North Cascades mountains, Washington State. Authorities said in a statement Monday that the four men, from Renton and Bellevue—10 miles from the center of Seattle —had been scaling a steep gully near North Early Winters Spire off of State Route 20 near Mazama when they all fell. When Okanogan County Sheriff's Office personnel and Search and Rescue arrived at the scene at around 11.30 a.m. Sunday, three of the climbers — aged 36, 47, and 63 —were confirmed dead. All three of their bodies have been recovered. Cristina Woodworth, head of the sheriff's search and rescue team, shared that it took him 'a number of hours to self-extricate.' He reportedly sustained internal bleeding and a traumatic brain injury in the fall, reported The Seattle Times. A fourth climber who was with the group managed to free himself after the equipment failed. Multiple media reports say the fourth man, who managed to free himself from the entanglement, walked back to the trailhead and drove to a payphone to call for help. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Okanogan County Undersheriff David Yarnell said. 'He didn't realize he had as significant of internal injuries as he did,' Yarnell shared. The terrifying fall is believed to have occurred either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, said Woodworth. As it stands, authorities believe the cause of the accident was triggered because of an anchor failure while the group were rappelling, however, an investigation is still ongoing. All four men are believed to have been tied to the same anchor point, which Yarnell said 'was not preferred.' Yarnell said the climbers noticed a storm rolling in as they were scaling the Early Winter Couloir route and descending a wedge between the north and south spires. 'All we know is that the anchor point that they were all tied off to failed,' Yarnell told The Seattle Times. Woodworth said they all plummeted approximately 400 feet. Their names have not yet been released.
