Climber Dead After 2-Person Team Falls 1,000 Feet Off Alaska Mountain

The two climbers were attempting to scale Mount Johnson, an 8,400-foot peak in Denali National Park, when they fell on April 25

One mountain climber is dead and another is injured after the two-person team fell 1,000 feet while climbing in Alaska on April 25.

According to a press release from the National Park Service, two climbers — identified on April 27 as 52-year-old Robbi Mecus and an unnamed 30-year-old California woman — were attempting to scale Mount Johnson, an 8,400-foot peak in Denali National Park, when they fell, resulting in the death of Mecus and the other woman sustaining serious traumatic injuries.

According to a previous press release from the NPS, the two climbers were attempting to take a route up the mountain known as "the Escalator" at Preserve's Ruth Gorge, which involved a "steep and technical" 5,000-foot climb amid rocks, ice and snow on the southeastern side of the peak.

The mountaineers were using ropes and attempting to traverse the route at around 10:45 p.m. when the fall occurred, and another group who witnessed the accident called the Alaska Regional Communication Center to report it.

The other group, the NPS said, "descended to the accident victims and confirmed one climber had died in the fall. The responders dug a snow cave and attended to the surviving climber’s injuries throughout the night."

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The next morning at around 7 a.m., the park dispatched a high-altitude rescue helicopter pilot and two mountaineering rangers from the nearby town of Talkeetna to the scene.

"Together, the ranger and injured patient were short-hauled out to a flat glacier staging area, and then loaded into the helicopter for the flight to Talkeetna," the release stated. "The patient was transferred to a LifeMed air ambulance at the Talkeetna State Airport for further care."

Later on the morning of April 26, a rescue team attempted to transport Mecus off of the mountain, but could not complete their initial attempt due to poor weather conditions, the NPS said. They later went to retrieve Mecus at around 8 a.m. on April 27 after the weather had improved.

"We are grateful for the rescue efforts of Denali mountaineering rangers and the two good Samaritans on Mt. Johnson who helped save a fellow climber’s life," Denali National Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell said in the follow-up release. "We extend our thoughts and condolences to the friends and family of Robbi Mecus."

According to North Country Public Radio, Mecus, of Keene Valley, N.Y., was a renowned climber, an Adirondack forest ranger and an advocate for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoor community, helping to host events like the Adirondack Queer Ice Fest.

Per NCPR, Mecus is survived by her daughter and former wife.

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