Two Injured Climbers Evacuated From Mt. McKinley

Denali National Park & Preserve (AK)
Two Injured Climbers Evacuated From Mt. McKinley

The two climbers injured in the accident in which two other climbers were killed last week were rescued from the mountain last Thursday. All four were members of an Alpine Ascents International guided climb. The two who died in the unwitnessed accident last Wednesday night have been identified as lead guide Suzanne Allen, 34, of Seattle, Washington, and client Peter Bullard, 45, of Shanghai, China. The two injured clients were placed in rescue litters and lowered to the 17,200-foot high camp for emergency medical treatment. Gary Burke, 31, of Dallas, Texas, was responsive and in stable condition with a broken leg and head injury; James Mohr, 30, of Camp Pendleton, California, was non-responsive with labored breathing, and medics at the high camp had to work through the night to maintain his airway. At 4:15 a.m. on Thursday morning, the park's high altitude A-Star B3 helicopter flew to the 17,200-foot high camp and evacuated each man separately. They were flown to the 7,200-foot Kahiltna Basecamp to two awaiting LifeMed air ambulances. Details on the cause of the fall remain unknown. Similar to a fatal fall that occurred on May 16th, the four-person team was beginning the traverse from Denali Pass to the 17,200-foot camp along a 45-degree slope on a very hard and windblown snowpack. Climbers returning from the upper elevations of the mountain report more difficult conditions than average due to the lack of new snow and an icy, wind-scoured trail.