Latest news with #NicholasVizzini
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Tragedy after skier, 29, triggered avalanche while descending America's tallest mountain
A 29-year-old skier died on America's highest mountain after triggering an avalanche while trying to descend its treacherous peak. Nicholas Vizzini, from Washington state, was with an unnamed climbing partner on Tuesday when they accidentally caused the crisis on Mount McKinley at over 16,000 feet, officials said. The Alaskan mountain, previously known as Denali before it was renamed earlier this year by President Trump, was the subject of an intensive search after the two became trapped under heavy snow. According to officials from the Denali National Park and Preserve rangers responded to the mountain within minutes after Vizzini's partner was spotted in debris from the avalanche. Rangers were then able to detect a beacon signal to find Vizzini, who was found buried under the debris. Despite lifesaving efforts from first responders, he was pronounced dead on Tuesday evening and his body was transferred to the state medical examiner's office. His partner sustained only minor injuries. The skiers death is the second recorded on Mount McKinley this year, after Alex Chiu, 33, also lost his life on the mountain earlier this month. Chiu, originally from Seattle, reportedly died after falling over 3,000 feet on the mountain's steep West Buttress climbing route, the same route where Vizzini died on Tuesday. The avalanche that killed Vizzini is known as a 'soft slab' avalanche, where soft, powdery debris typically from recent storms is sent down the mountain face. Officials said the avalanche released at over 16,000 feet and released for over 1,000 feet down the slope. Rangers were able to find Vizzini so quickly because two were already on the mountain face for an altitude acclimatization climb. When the rangers found him, they reportedly continued lifesaving measures for forty minutes before he was pronounced dead. The park service said they were discontinued 'due to traumatic injuries and no pulse.' The deaths of Vizzini and Chui mark a dark start to Mount McKinley's climbing season, which typically begins in May and ends in early July. 'There have been approximately 13 avalanche-related deaths and more than 130 total deaths on the mountain recorded in the history of the park,' the park service said in a statement after Vizzini's death. On the West Buttress route where the two men died this month, a total of 15 climbers have died since 1980, National Park Service spokesperson Amber Smigiel told USA TODAY. The park added that the mountain remains open, and there are currently an estimated 500 people on Mount McKinley.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Skier killed in avalanche on Mount McKinley
A skier has died after being caught in an avalanche on Mount McKinley, North America 's tallest peak, officials have said. The Denali National Park and Preserve said that 29-year-old Nicholas Vizzini, from Washington state, and his snowboarding partner triggered the avalanche on Tuesday while descending the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) peak in Alaska. The avalanche released at approximately 16,600 feet (5,060 meters) and ran down to about 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), the park added. Two mountaineering rangers responded after spotting Vizzini's partner. They detected a beacon signal and found Vizzini, who was mostly buried. The rangers tried lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead early Tuesday evening. Vizzini's body was recovered and transferred to the state medical examiner's office. His partner sustained minor injuries and was scheduled to leave the mountain Wednesday, according to the statement. Earlier this month, Alex Chiu, a climber from Seattle, died from a 3,000-foot (about 900-meter) fall on the mountain's West Buttress climbing route. The climbing season typically runs from early May to early July. There are about 500 climbers on Mount McKinley currently, the park said.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Skier caught in an avalanche is the second person to die this season on Alaska's Mount McKinley
A skier died after being caught in an avalanche on North America 's tallest peak, officials said Wednesday — the second death of this year's climbing season on Alaska's Mount McKinley. Nicholas Vizzini, 29, of Washington state and his climbing partner, a snowboarder, triggered the avalanche high on the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) peak Tuesday while descending a slope, according to a statement from Denali National Park and Preserve. The top of where the avalanche released was at approximately 16,600 feet (5,060 meters) and ran down to about 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), the park said. Two mountaineering rangers on the mountain responded within minutes after spotting Vizzini's partner amid the avalanche debris, the park statement said. They were able to detect a beacon signal and find Vizzini, who was mostly buried in debris. The rangers tried lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead early Tuesday evening, the statement said. Vizzini's body was recovered and transferred to the state medical examiner's office. His partner sustained minor injuries and was scheduled to leave the mountain Wednesday, according to the statement. Earlier this month, Alex Chiu, a climber from Seattle, died from a 3,000-foot (about 900-meter) fall on the mountain's West Buttress climbing route. The climbing season typically runs from early May to early July. There are about 500 climbers on Mount McKinley currently, the park said.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Skier caught in an avalanche is the second person to die this season on Alaska's Mount McKinley
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A skier died after being caught in an avalanche on North America's tallest peak, officials said Wednesday — the second death of this year's climbing season on Alaska's Mount McKinley. Nicholas Vizzini, 29, of Washington state and his climbing partner, a snowboarder, triggered the avalanche high on the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) peak Tuesday while descending a slope, according to a statement from Denali National Park and Preserve. The top of where the avalanche released was at approximately 16,600 feet (5,060 meters) and ran down to about 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), the park said. Two mountaineering rangers on the mountain responded within minutes after spotting Vizzini's partner amid the avalanche debris, the park statement said. They were able to detect a beacon signal and find Vizzini, who was mostly buried in debris. The rangers tried lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead early Tuesday evening, the statement said. Vizzini's body was recovered and transferred to the state medical examiner's office. His partner sustained minor injuries and was scheduled to leave the mountain Wednesday, according to the statement. Earlier this month, Alex Chiu, a climber from Seattle, died from a 3,000-foot (about 900-meter) fall on the mountain's West Buttress climbing route. The climbing season typically runs from early May to early July. There are about 500 climbers on Mount McKinley currently, the park said.
