NPS ranger dies after fall on Mount McKinley, fourth in over a week – USA Today

A National Park Service ranger became the fourth person to die on Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest peak, in just over a week.
Robin Pendery, a mountaineering ranger assigned to Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve, died the afternoon of June 4, according to a June 5 park service news release. Officials said Pendery, of Enumclaw, Washington, fell into a crevasse during a patrol near the 14,000-foot camp of Mount McKinley, known to Alaska Native communities as Denali, which has a summit at 20,310 feet.
Park service personnel immediately responded to the incident but Pendery didn’t survive, the agency said. The incident remains under investigation.
“Our mountaineering rangers dedicate themselves to serving visitors and helping others in one of the most challenging environments in the world,” Brooke Merrell, superintendent of Denali National Park and Preserve, said in a statement. “Today, we mourn the loss of a valued colleague, friend and teammate. Our thoughts are with Robin’s family and loved ones.”
Just over a week ago, three Latvian climbers died in the area of Denali Pass, at around 18,200 feet elevation, on May 27, Reuters reported. The Latvian Mountaineering Association identified them as Inese Pučeka, Vija Olte, and Renārs Kunigs-Salaks, according to a Google Translate from Latvian of the group’s announcement.
A fourth member of the group survived the fall and was rescued the next day before being transported via air ambulance to a hospital, the park service said in a news release. Three other members didn’t fall and attended to their fallen team members before returning to the High Camp, which is located at around 17,200 feet.
The park service said Mount McKinley’s typical climbing season lasts from late April to mid-July. The middle of May into June is the busiest time of year for climbers, though colder temperatures and strong winds are common in May while June can often have more snowfall.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.

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