Taiwanese Climber Dies on Mt. McKinley; 4 Others Rescued

One climber died and four others were airlifted off Mt. McKinley after severe weather assaulted North America’s tallest peak, National Park Service officials said.

A group of seven Taiwanese climbers were forced to make their camp at 19,400 feet when high winds and whiteout conditions struck the 20,320-foot mountain Tuesday. The next day, four of them climbed 2,000 feet down and were able to alert authorities. Two of them were airlifted to a hospital to be treated for frostbite.

Chiu Jui-Lin, 29, had died by the time rescuers reached the three left behind at the 19,400-foot level. The others were helped down to the 17,200-foot camp and then airlifted to a hospital. Officials did not know the whereabouts of the two other climbers at the lower camp. Six climbers have died this season on McKinley.