Anchor Failure Kills 3 Climbers North Cascades Washington

Three climbers from the Seattle area tragically died in a climbing accident in Washington's North Cascades National Park after an anchor point failed while they were rappelling down a steep gully near North Early Winters Spire. The climbers, ages 36, 47, and 63, fell approximately 400 feet combined and were found dead at the scene, while a fourth climber survived despite sustaining serious injuries including a brain injury and internal bleeding. The survivor managed to hike back to a vehicle and drove 60 miles to call for help. Rescue personnel, including the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue volunteers, and the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team, responded to the incident and recovered the bodies from the difficult terrain. Authorities are investigating the accident, with preliminary findings indicating an anchor failure as the cause, noting all four were tied to the same anchor point, which is not preferred. The incident occurred as the climbers were descending after noticing an approaching storm, and the sheriff’s office extended condolences to the families and thanked all involved in the rescue efforts.