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National Park Service / AP
Crews search for four Japanese climbers on Alaska's Mount McKinley on Saturday.
Crews have suspended efforts to recover the bodies of four Japanese climbers killed in an avalanche on Alaska's Mount McKinley, the National Park Service said Sunday.
A two-day ground search of the debris path from the avalanche turned up clues Saturday indicating the likely location of four deceased climbers, a Denali National Park spokeswoman said.
A mountaineering ranger lowered himself into the same crevasse that the party's one survivor fell into. The ranger probed through avalanche debris 100 feet beneath the glacier's surface and found a broken rope that matched that of the Japanese team. He began to dig further, but encountered heavily compacted ice and snow debris.
NBC's Veronica de la Cruz reports.
"Due to the danger of ice fall within the crevasse, it was decided to permanently suspend the recovery efforts," the park service said in a press release.
Rangers also now say that the avalanche, which happened at approximately 11,800 feet on the West Buttress, occurred early Wednesday morning, not Thursday. The lone survivor, 69-year-old Hitoshi Ogi, reached a base camp to report the avalanche Thursday afternoon. He suffered only a minor hand injury.
The climbers were part of a five-member Miyagi Workers Alpine Federation expedition. All were from the Miyagi Prefecture in Japan, the park service said.
Those killed were identified as Yoshiaki Kato, 64; Masako Suda, 50; Michiko Suzuki, 56; and Tamao Suzuki, 63.
National Park Service / Reuters
A rescue worker and dog search the debris field from the deadly avalanche.
The climbers -- three men and two women -- were descending and roped together at the time of the accident. Ogi was the last person on the rope, and thus was the closest to the surface when the team fell into the crevasse, said park spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin.
Mount McKinley, also referred to as Denali, is the tallest peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,320 feet. The McKinley climbing season runs from late April until early July. Typically, 1,200 to 1,300 people attempt the peak each season.
There have six climbing fatalities on McKinley this season, according to the park service. Since 1932, a total of 120 climbers have perished on the mountain, 12 due to avalanches. This week's four avalanche fatalities were the first to occur on the popular West Buttress route.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.
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Leave a Comment:
At least they died doing what that loved, which was climbing mountains for no apparent reason like all the other idiots that do it.
Why do people write stupid comments? These folks died, they left families and friends. They commited no harm or damage and deserve more then a flipant remark. Shame on you!
Everyone dies...not everyone truly lives. The loss of a loved one hurts, God knows, I know. However, living a life sheltered in safety, where one doesn't take risks because...it's a risk. That is a fate worst than death.
They took risks that they knew would greatly increase the chance of death. Countless hours spent on the rescue search, including the risk of more lives trying to find them.Yeah yeah I've heard them all. Some people don't see it as a great defeat to make it to the top. I personally enjoy the fact that the world still produces humans that are capable of conquering some of mother natures timeless challenges. Besides it's nice to set challenges for ourselves other than driving to work. I'd rather die on a mountain than in a bad neighborhood with a flat tire any day. Mr Grape must not leave mommy's basement very often.His challenges are probably surfing the net and being first to make a dumb comment.
Ny first cousin died in a similar way: ice climbing. He was climbing up a frozen waterfall and wasn't roped to anyone. The ice broke, and he fell. I would think mountain climbing to be very dangerous, and not something I would ever do (one climbing death in the family is enough.) While this was more than 25 years ago, the entire family felt that at least he died doing something he loved. He left behind us, plus a wife and young daughter. I still wish he hadn't gone climbing that day, but he was determined to do so, and had planned an Everest climb the following year. So, Mr. Grape I rather agree with you.
leslie
at least your family has some sense, and your cousin actually experienced life besides just sitting at home and going to bars like so many other people seem to have spent there younger years.
If you sail to the edge of a flat earth, you're an explorer. If you expect a stranger to climb down into an earth crack to find you, you're a self-absorbed hazard.
BP,
Don't knock it until you tried it. If the world was full of people like you we would still be living in caves grunting at each other.
I would not climb that mountain any later than mid-May. Too risky after that. Always pick the safest month when climbing.
My hero. Leave your beacon and phone on the table.
These climbers were all aged 50 and older. Presumably they did not leave small children to be cared for, so if they opted to risk their lives in a dangerous, but suicidal attempt to climb Mt. McKinley, I say more power to them.
It may sound like a tough way to go, swept away in an instant by an avalanche. But so is dying in an ICU unit, with countless tubes connected to your body, or in a nursing home, after weeks, months or years on complete dependence on others.
Maybe a few lucky people go in their sleep, with no pain or resentment. But for the rest of us, a messy execution awaits us, so why not on a mountain side, doing what you love to do?
If they had more respect for life with family and friends they should of never climbed to begin with. No harm or damage, they put themselves in unneeded risk, also how much does it cost to have rescue crews out searching for them? I really could care less, if they want to die trying let them but don't expect others to die looking for the dead bodies when harm does come.
With your attitude, lynyrdsky, Columbus might never have crossed the Atlantic. Stanley would never have searched for Dr. Livingston in the unmapped regions of equatorial Africa, and it is doubtful that any person would have reached either of the poles.
Nobody would ever go skiing, or surfing, or engage in any activity more hazardous than shuffleboard.
You'll make one heck of a nursing home resident in the not too distant future. You're half way there already.
I would only find fault with this group of mountaineers if circumstances showed that they were not properly prepared in terms of their training, supplies and equipment.
Peace to their families and friends.
I don't fully disagree with BP the Grape. Those who choose to participate in pastimes including high-risk activities such as mountain climbing tend to prioritize their own needs above the potential emotional risk of loss to their families and friends. Obviously, this, like all high risk losses, is a tragedy.........but in the end......an unnecessary tragedy.
Climbing and hiking are not high risk activities. I am sure you always put your own desires and needs below those of others. What a wonderful person you must think you are, but at heart you are a spineless wimp.
What a dumb comment. Climbing and hiking in general are NOT high risk activities. But climbing to the tops of mountains like McKinley or Everest are. There's a BIG difference, Einstein.
Driving a car is a "high risk activity."
Gee wally...Climbing and hiking are not high risk activities...
Really 12 dead so far this year and this is not high risk you say? They are climbing a fricken mountain to 20000 feet. Ever been that high up? Spineless wimp you say, but you are a brainless idiot.
wally's might be one of the dumber posts of all time.
"They have lived!" (Cicero)
I think,all of the climbers should have to post an insurance bond to pay for all attempts to effect a rescue and that includes damages to families of rescuers who are injured or killed effecting the rescue.
Nobody should be allowed to climb that doesn't take due care to practice climbing safely,knowing their equipment,safety rules and possible dangers on the mountains,to the extent that they are restricted or forbidden to climb during treacherous conditions.As with any adventerous undertaking,you do come across fool-hardy people who just endanger others.
I basically agree with that... here in Oregon people get in trouble on Mt Hood so predictably... they should pay into a fund to deal with the unfortunate and predictable results
all the rules and safety procedures won't save your butt when half a mountain comes down on you. How is this different that those that choose to live in areas that are prone to forest fires? Earthquakes? Tornados? Hurricanes? If you haven't dragged your butt outside to experience life challenges, you shouldn't be making comments on their choices. And to add to that, yes, I do agree that they should post an insurance policy to claim to support the "volunteers" that come out to save/find the bodies.
Having climb Denali, I can at least say from experience that the $350 permit that is charged each person to climb the mountain mostly goes towards search and rescue efforts. Considering the thousands of people that climb the mountain each and every year, that does add up quickly. Most experienced teams just self-rescue themselves if an accident happens, mostly because of pride, but also because that's the right thing to do. The mountain is climb so often, people exactly know where avalanche dangers happen, the route is wanded throughout the whole climb. Not knowing whether these guys knew what they were doing, or if they were following the established route I can't precisely say what happened. This was probably a freak accident and could have happened to anyone less or more experienced. About people risking their lives to rescue other people. Most of these guys are volunteers, because search and rescue is a sport itself, and people simply like doing it. I don't think it would matter whether these guys would be rescuing mountaineers, kayakers, hikers, etc. To simply focus on people who mountaineer as being selfish and ambivalent towards people who come to their rescue I believe is an ignorant assumption. As an example, there are way more hunters who get themselves into trouble than mountaineers, and yet the question of why people should go hunting never comes up.
At Denali, the NPS has a policy that climbers are responsible for the costs of any rescue. Most climbers purchase rescue insurance.
For all that has been published about Denali, people continue to underestimate the mountain. It is an Arctic mountain even more dangerous than its height would indicate at a lower latitude. So many Asians have died on it that one slope is generally called the oriental express. I recall one year when the British army, I think they were rangers, were training on the mountain. They had to call on the Alaska State Police to rescue them, and these were world class warriors. The vast majority of Alaskans would never consider climbing Denali but people come from all over the world to attempt it. Six deaths in one year sounds about average to me but it is early yet and we may see more this year. During the ten years I lived in Alaska, I free climbed several lower peaks even places that were closed to the public because of the danger and never had any desire to attempt Denali. I know my limits but it appears others are still searching for theirs.
Do not worry about the cost of rescue for those who survive, Alaska makes big bucks on these adventure tourists and then charges enough to cover her expenses and then some for any rescue effort. The US Coast Guard in Alaska charges so much for a rescue at sea that most Alaskans do everything they can to avoid calling them, pleading for help from any boat in the area except the Coast Guard to avoid having to sell the boat to pay for the rescue.
While I feel the pain of the loved ones of those who died on this expedition, I remain proud to be a part of the human race . . . a race of explorers, adventurers and risk takers. Where would we be today without this spirit.
hahaha to rich cecil - they left lots of family and friends huh? To bad that they did not think of them and how they would feel if anything were to happen if they FELL OFF A MOUNTAIN AND DIED? Or avalance? They did not care or think about anyone else but themselves and climbing a stoopid mountain for no good reason. Thrill? Good reason to die and leave all your family and friends behind because they are the only left to remember you. I can understand accidents but actually GOING and looking for trouble - that, I do not understand.
What are you, a freaking mind reader? You actually know what they thought or cared about? You are the one who is stoopid, as you say!
The Assmonkeys are indeed out in force already.
You know who you are...
yeah, looking for trouble. Did you read that 1300 a year try this and they lost what...6? that comes out to 0.046 percent dying. What a risk that is...
certainly, now the trip to dysneyworld with the anoying screaming brats sounds better, ah!
Obviously the group loved what they were doing. My heart and prayers go out to them and their families. Such a tragedy to first lose a loved one in this way. Then to never me able to properly bury your loved ones must be extremely painful.
To those making crude remarks. Someone needed to teach you empathy in your life. I feel sorry for you!
I guarantee these people lived a bad a** life. That's hardcore to climb mountains at that age so I give them credit for dying the way they lived! More people die of heart attacks every day laying on the couch staring at the TV for six straight hours pounding cheetos like there's no tomorrow and nobodys says anything nasty. Rest in peace my Japanese friends!
Japanese Monkeys died doing dumbsxxx thing! Live stupid; die stupid. If you want to climb a dumb axx mountain, go for it! If you die in the process, it was your choice. Not the same as when an innocent person gets killed by a drunken driver. Besides, the parents of these Japs were probably involved with killing or trying to kill American G.I.s in WWII.
Big Black Dog: It's inappropriate and offensive to degrade these climbers--or anyone else--with racial slurs.
I'll stick with spelunking. It's much warmer, and zero chance of an avalanche.
That's what Floyd Collins thought.
Ah, good old Floyd. I still have the NSS magazine issue about him. He had some rocks fall. I don't think that quite qualifies as an avalanche.
But OK, nearly zero chance. It's true if you are one of the first to discover a cave, the way is less settled and cleared. I've only been in that situation a couple times. Most known caves are completely settled. Fools who explore old mines are just that... fools. They are very unstable.
Happy diving!
People should feel free to do what they enjoy doing...and understand that nobody should have to risk their own lives saving their dumb arses..or recovering their bodies...rest in peace.
More power to them, but dying like this is asking for it...regardless of how low the risks are.
Japanese just can't get a break, eh?
Yes it cost money to get all the searchers there but how do we know if they were paid? There are a lot of people who volunteer their time in cases such as this. How many times have I helped a neighbor or a town hit by a twister and never asked nor expected a dime, don't know or care you just get off your ass and do something! 64, 50, 54, 63 and a 69 year old survivor. I bet they could have kicked half the peoples asses here right now. Hats off and enjoy Nirvana.
They didn't wear the James Bond's anti-avalanche suit.
let them rot stupid fools!
Women climbers? Were their names Amalia? Will men ever learn?
glad to see they were pointed out as japanese. People are people so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
May these unfortunate souls rest in peace and may there loved ones find solace.
Had a geology professor that talked about losing his wife while climbing in the Andes. He took off on a 6 month climbing expedition, didn't tell her he was going and when he returned she was gone.
OK, that made me laugh...
So sad!
Hope this comes out right, but if I was around those peoples' age, I probably wouldn't have been climbing dangerous mountains like that. I think that they were probably in pretty good shape and really adventurous. Some people, even if they're a little old, are really energetic and can do big things like climbing mountains. It's neat that those people were climbing out in the cold like that. I'd be too scared to do what they did.
But it's really sad that their climbing trip ended like that. I hope the peoples' families are doing alright.