A seasonal park ranger with the United States National Park Service (NPS) died Thursday after suffering a fall into a crevasse while patrolling Mount Denali, the highest mountain in North America and one of the most demanding for climbers.

The victim was identified as Robin Pendery, a resident of Enumclaw, Washington state, the NPS reported in an official statement.

According to authorities, Pendery was participating in a mountaineering patrol near the camp located at 14,000 feet (about 4,267 meters) when he fell into a crevasse around 2:00 p.m. local time.

The National Park Service indicated that the park ranger collaborated in the operations of the 14,200-foot camp along with another member of the mountain rescue and security force.

After the accident, park teams immediately began a rescue operation. However, Pendery did not survive the fall.

Authorities said the exact circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.

“We are devastated by the loss of a member of our Denali family,” said Denali National Park and Preserve Superintendent Brooke Merrell. "Our mountaineering rangers dedicate their efforts 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 ranger specializing in mountaineering since 2024. Her duties included emergency response, climber safety and high mountain rescue operations.

Second tragedy in less than two weeks

Pendery's death comes just a week after another fatal crash in Denali.

In that case, three mountaineers from Latvia died after falling near Denali Pass, one of the most dangerous areas of the mountain. The victims were identified as Inese Puceka, Vija Olte and Renars Kunigs-Salaks.

A fourth member of the expedition survived with serious injuries and had to be evacuated through a complex helicopter aerial operation from an altitude of nearly 17,200 feet, due to difficult weather and terrain conditions.

One of the most dangerous mountains in North America

At 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) above sea level, Denali—also historically known as Mount McKinley—is considered one of the most demanding challenges for mountaineers in North America.

Each year, between 1,000 and 1,200 people attempt to reach the summit, mainly during the May and June climbing season. However, less than half of the expeditioners who attempted it last year managed to complete the ascent successfully.

According to historical data from the park, more than 130 people have lost their lives on the mountain since there have been records of climbing activities in the area.

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