Seattle climber dies in fall at Mount Rainier National Park

It’s unclear what caused the accident.

  • By Wire Service
  • Thursday, August 16, 2018 5:16pm
  • Northwest

Associated Press

MOUNT RAINIER — Officials say a 35-year-old climber died while rappelling off a peak in Mount Rainier National Park.

The News Tribune in Tacoma reported Stephen Kornbluth, of Seattle, summited 6,710-foot Dewey Peak with two friends Tuesday after climbing the mountain’s west face.

Park spokesman Kevin Bacher said Kornbluth’s two partners rappelled safely before he started to come down and it’s unclear what caused Kornbluth to fall.

Bacher said rangers are investigating.

After Kornbluth fell, Bacher said, the other climbers called 911 and activated an emergency beacon before descending to where he landed. They performed CPR but Kornbluth was unresponsive.

Rugged terrain and the late hour kept rangers and search teams from reaching Kornbluth until Wednesday, when they recovered his body with a helicopter.

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