Three rock climbers were killed during the weekend and another was seriously injured when they fell almost 200 feet while they descended a steep trench into the North Cascades Mountains in the state of Washington, the authorities said.
The four men, whose names were not released, were a pure rock wall near the early winters of the North when they fell. It was unclear what the accident caused, although the authorities believe that it was possible the result of an equipment failure, said Undersheriff David Yarnell of the Sheriff office of Okanogan County.
The climbers who were killed, 36, 47 and 63 years old, were declared dead on the spot, said the Sheriff’s office in a statement. The fourth climber, whose age was not available, was transferred to HarborView Medical Center in Seattle, said Undersheriff Yarnell. His condition was not immediately available on Monday.
It was not clear how the men knew each other. The Okanogan County Coroner office did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Monday.
Around 11.30 am on Sunday, care providers at the Sheriff office and volunteers at the Okanogan County Search and Rescue Association on a report of a climbing accident near North Early Winters striker of Staatsroute 20, about 16 miles west of Mazama, wash. The Sheriff office said in a statement.
It was unclear when the men had started their climb and when they fell. The weather started to run during their climb and the group decided to go back, said Unders Heriff Yarnell. While the climbers fell, the “anchor point” – a secure Where climbers can confirm their equipment – that they were tied to “break loose,” he said.
The men then fell almost 200 vertical feet and then went at least 200 feet over a rocky, snow -covered parachute before they came to a halt, Mr. said. Yarnell.
The climber who survived the fall walked back to a car and drove around 60 miles to the west to Newhalem, where he used a wagephone to call for help.
“There was a long time delay before he arrived at Newhalem,” said Mr. Yarnell.
A helicopter helped to restore the remains of the three climbers, Mr. Yarnell said.
The equipment found on the scene included ropes, carabiner hooks and harnesses.
The Northern and Southern Early Winters Towers His rock formations in the Liberty Bell Group In the northern cascades. The area is the home of different hiking trails and rock climbing sites.
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