A seasoned mountaineering ranger with the National Park Service tragically lost her life on Thursday afternoon after falling into a crevasse on Mount McKinley, adding to the list of fatal incidents on this challenging Alaskan mountain.
The ranger has been identified as Robin Pendery from Enumclaw, Washington, as reported by the National Park Service (NPS) in their official statement.
According to agency officials, Pendery was on a climbing patrol when she experienced the fatal fall near the 14,000-foot camp on the mountain, around 2 p.m. local time.
The North and South summits of Mt. McKinley were visible from a commercial flight on May 28.
At the time of the accident, Pendery was actively involved in managing operations at the 14,200-foot camp alongside another ranger, as noted in a previous park update.
NPS personnel launched an immediate rescue effort, but Pendery did not survive the fall.Â
Authorities said the exact circumstances of the fatal fall are under investigation.
A climber was seen this week on the route Ham and Eggs, Moose’s Tooth. (S. Barrier/National Park Service)
“We are heartbroken by the loss of a member of our Denali family,” Denali National Park superintendent Brooke Merrell wrote in a statement. “Our mountaineering rangers dedicate themselves to serving visitors and helping others in one of the most challenging environments in the world. Today, we mourn the loss of a valued colleague, friend and teammate.”
Pendery had been working as a seasonal mountaineering ranger at Denali National Park and Preserve since 2024, dedicating her time to emergency response, climber safety and high-altitude operations, according to the agency.Â
Pendery’s death at Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, comes just one week after a separate disaster claimed the lives of three Latvian climbers.
Ranger Chrissie Oken putting the finishing touches on the radio repeater on top of Mt. Crosson, ~12,800’ this week. (J. Ramos-Leon/National Park Service)
During the prior incident, four members of a seven-person expedition plummeted near Denali Pass, which is known as one of the most hazardous stretches of the mountain.
Three climbers — Inese Puceka, Vija Olte and Renars Kunigs-Salaks — died in the fall, while a fourth survived in critical condition, News Media previously reported.Â
Rescuers had to use a complex long-line helicopter extraction to save the survivor from a basin at 17,200 feet, as brutal weather conditions and rugged terrain prevented a standard landing.
Towering 20,310 feet above sea level, Denali is considered one of the most challenging climbs in North America.
Each year, only about 1,000 to 1,200 climbers attempt to summit the mountain, typically during the peak May and June season. Fewer than half of those who made the attempt last year successfully reached the top.
Throughout the national park’s history, more than 130 people have died on the mountain.
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