Climber dies after falling into crevasse in North Cascades

Published 1:30 am Monday, July 24, 2017

Associated Press

SEDRO WOOLLEY — A climber died after falling into a crevasse while descending Forbidden Peak in the North Cascades.

Susan Bennett, a 61-year old woman from Bellingham, was with a group of four who had climbed to the summit on Saturday. They were descending the West Ridge when she fell several hundred feet.

A National Park Service helicopter and crew located Bennett in a 30 foot deep crevasse with no signs of life. The rest of the climbing party descended and hiked out.

The rugged terrain and weather conditions caused a delay in removing Bennett’s body from the mountain.

North Cascades National Park officials said they would likely recover her body on Monday.