The sheriff reported that three climbers from the Seattle area lost their lives on Sunday after a fall, which was likely exacerbated by equipment failure.
A group of four climbers were attempting a descent in the early winter spire area when the incident occurred. Officials believe that a failure in one of the anchors contributed to the accident, although the investigation is still ongoing. Three climbers, aged 36, 47, and 63, were pronounced dead at the scene. The fourth climber managed to free himself and navigate back to the trailhead to call for assistance.
Search and rescue teams responded late Sunday morning to the accident site located in a rocky area that’s popular among climbers, roughly 16 miles west of Mazama, according to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office.
The fourth climber sustained internal bleeding and a traumatic brain injury from the fall and was transported to a Seattle hospital, as noted by Okanogan County representative David Yannell.
“He didn’t realize how serious his internal injuries were,” Yannell mentioned.
A helicopter rescue team from Snohomish County assisted in recovering the deceased from the challenging mountainous terrain.
Investigators plan to examine the climbing gear to uncover the cause of the fall.
According to Yannell, all four climbers were at the same anchor point, which he described as one they generally avoid. The anchor points are under scrutiny to see if they were standard gear.
“What we understand is that if the anchor point fails, they’re all connected,” Yannell said.
