| Minneapolis Star Tribune | - |
A
St. Paul man is among a group of six people - four climbers and two
guides - who were likely killed in a rockslide or avalanche on Mount
Rainier in Washington.
St. Paul man in group of 6 feared dead on Mount Rainier
- Article by: JIM ANDERSON , Star Tribune
- Updated: May 31, 2014 - 11:34 PM
Mark Mahaney, 26, was passionate about climbing.
Mark Mahaney of St. Paul
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A St. Paul
man is among a group of six people — four climbers and two guides — who
were likely killed in a rockslide or avalanche on Mount Rainier in
Washington.
Mark Mahaney, 26, was among the group that was due back from their climb on Friday.
The
climbers were killed in a 3,300-foot fall along the steep north slope of
the mountain, officials said Saturday, in the worst disaster on the
mountain in more than three decades.
When they
were overdue, a helicopter search found a debris field of tents,
clothing and other items over Carbon Glacier on the mountain’s steep
north side. The pattern of the debris suggests an avalanche or
rockslide. Helicopters got low enough to pick up pings from avalanche
beacons, buried in the snow, said Fawn Bauer, spokeswoman for the
National Park Service.
“They
[rescuers] feel there is no chance of survival at this point,” Bauer
said. Air and ground searches were suspended four hours before
nightfall.
Mahaney had two great passions in his life, said his uncle, Rob Mahaney: his girlfriend and climbing.
“He was
following his dream,” he said of his nephew, adding Mark Mahaney’s
devastated father and brother were heading to Washington.
A graduate of Prior Lake High School
before making his home in St. Paul, he had climbed Mount Rainier once
before, his uncle said. He was an experienced climber, had scaled Mount
McKinley in Alaska and particularly loved the sport of ice climbing. His
nephew reveled in the physical challenge and the emotional exhilaration
climbing brought to his active life.
before making his home in St. Paul, he had climbed Mount Rainier once
before, his uncle said. He was an experienced climber, had scaled Mount
McKinley in Alaska and particularly loved the sport of ice climbing. His
nephew reveled in the physical challenge and the emotional exhilaration
climbing brought to his active life.
“We have to celebrate Mark. This is what he loved to do,” Rob Mahaney said. “This was his passion.”
Mount Rainier, southeast of Seattle, stands at 14,410 feet and attracts thousands of climbers trying to reach its summit
every year. Nearly 11,000 people attempted to reach the summit of Mount
Rainier in 2013, and in most years about half of those try reach the
top, according to National Park Service statistics.
every year. Nearly 11,000 people attempted to reach the summit of Mount
Rainier in 2013, and in most years about half of those try reach the
top, according to National Park Service statistics.
About 200
people were on the mountain about this time last year, which is
considered early in the climbing season. Some of the climbs on Mount
Rainier can be completed in a few hours, though most people take two or
three days to reach the summit.
Bauer said climbing rangers conducted a thorough search for Mahaney’s group that included looking into crevasses.
“That is a
steep face, almost like an avalanche chute,” she said of the Liberty
Ridge route that the six took. The Liberty Ridge route is one of the
toughest and most dangerous ways up the mountain.
Last week,
the Park Service reported the Liberty Ridge route as being in good
condition with soft snow on the ground during the day. Snow flurries
passed through the national park late Wednesday.
The climbers were last heard from Wednesday about 6 p.m., when they reported they would camp overnight at 12,800 feet elevation.
The two
guides were from a respected company called Alpine Ascents. The lead
guide for the missing climbers, Matt Hegeman, had climbed Rainier more
than 50 times.
“Obviously this is a tragedy — it is very sad,” said Todd Burleson, the company’s founder. “We are very sad for the families and the loss of our guys. Everyone mourns this.”
and the loss of our guys. Everyone mourns this.”
Since 1897,
at least 89 people have died on Mount Rainier during summit climbs,
according to the Park Service. Forty-five search and rescue operations
took place between October 2012 and September 2013, costing about
$150,000, according to the Park Service.
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