A park ranger died during a rescue yesterday on Mt. Rainier, a 14,410-foot glacier-coated volcano in Washington State that attracts thousands of climbers each year.
Ranger Nick Hall, 34, fell from 13,700 feet off the mountain’s
northeast face while helping distressed climbers get ready for a
helicopter rescue yesterday afternoon, according to the National Park Service.
The climbing party of four had successfully made it to the summit of
the mountain, which is considered technical but generally safe for
climbers who know what they’re doing. On the way down, two of the
climbers fell into a crevasse on the Emmons Glacier. A third called for
help with a cell phone.
During the evacuation of the first climber just before 5 p.m., Hall
slid more than 3,000 feet down the side of the mountain. Rangers reached
his body several hours later. Investigations are ongoing.
