Rockfall hits a camp on Washington's Mount Rainier

A rockfall hit a camp with 6 people on Washington's Mount Rainier Liberty Ridge route resulting in one fatality and two injuries.

The rockfall occurred on Wednesday night (May 31, 2019). The climbers had settled camp in an area near Thumb Rock which is considered hazardous and they intended to climb the mountaintop the following morning. 

Thumb Rock is usually the final camp that climbers use before they try to reach the summit of the mountain. Around 10,000 people attempt the ascent annually but about half of them succeed. According to Kevin Backer, the park's spokesman, the mountain can be dangerous for the climbers. "The reality is, there is risk on this mountain. There are always things that can break loose, and no place on the mountain is 100% safe."

This was the first death to be recorded on the route since 2014. The incident was reported to the Park rangers at about 8:00 p.m., however, emergency crews had to wait until next morning to respond due to the rugged terrain and the weathers conditions. "It's a location that is hazardous and treacherous to get to even in good conditions. And when the light is falling and it's getting dark and you're dealing with a marine layer, all those factors make it extremely dangerous to fly or even hike into a location like this," Bacher added.

Rescuers managed to air-lift the injured climbers in the morning of the following day and the rest of the crew few hours later.

The 45-year-old unfortunate man who suffered critical damage and died due to the rockfall has been identified by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. One injured man remains in severe condition in a local hospital while the other is no longer at risk and has been released.