Climber Missing On Mount Rainier

Mon., Oct. 27, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

Rescue teams looked Sunday for a 25-year-old climber missing on Mount Rainier, but wintry weather made the search difficult, the National Park Service said.

An expanded search was planned today for the climber, who was not identified by the Park Service.

The man and his climbing partner left for Camp Muir from Paradise on Friday and climbed to the summit via the Disappointment Cleaver route on Saturday.

As the pair descended the summit, they wandered off route and stopped near the top of Gibraltar Rock, elevation 12,500 feet.

The climbers separated, and the partner last saw the man Saturday afternoon, heading toward Gibraltar Ledge and Gibraltar Chute.

The climbing partner never regained sight of the man and, after finding the way, descended to Camp Muir at elevation 10,000 feet. When the climbing partner reached Camp Muir, he called 911.

Neither climber had a pack or survival gear, the Park Service said.

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Climber Missing On Mount Rainier

Jesse Tinsley

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