Seattle man found dead after falling from Mount McKinley, tallest peak in North America

Alex Chui, a 41-year-old climber from Seattle, tragically fell 3,000 feet from Mount McKinley while on the West Buttress route. His climbing partners, who reported the fall at Squirrel Point on Monday, were unable to see or hear him because he was not roped. Search crews could not reach the area until early Wednesday, when they recovered his body. This incident echoes a similar tragedy in 2010, when a French mountaineer fell in the same location, with his body never recovered. May and June mark the peak climbing season for Mount McKinley, which currently hosts about 500 climbers.

The Denali National Park and Preserve announced the transfer of Chui's body to the state medical examiner. Climbing in this region is known for its dangers, emphasizing the need for safety measures among climbers. Such incidents raise awareness about the risks associated with mountaineering on North America's tallest peak.