Overview

• Four climbers fell 120 meters at Early Winters Spires in North Cascades National Park after their anchor failed during a rappel.
• Three climbers, aged 36, 47, and 63, were pronounced dead at the scene, while the lone survivor suffered internal injuries and head trauma.
• The survivor managed to free himself, walk to his car, and drive to a payphone to call for emergency assistance.
• Investigators suspect an old, weathered piton found at the scene as the likely point of failure, highlighting risks of aging climbing equipment.
• Search-and-rescue teams used GPS data and a helicopter to recover the victims' bodies and analyze the climbing gear.