A skier disappeared nearly a month ago at Mt. Rainier. Park rangers make tragic discovery.
The skier was last heard from May 18, before setting out to ski tour above Paradise, rangers said. Her body was recovered over the weekend.
Natalie Neysa AlundA team of park rangers in Washington state said they recovered the body of a skier who vanished in Mount Rainier National Park nearly a month ago.
The unidentified woman's body was found over the weekend at the base of Pebble Creek's Moraine Falls after rangers reported the skier apparently fell about 200 feet to the bottom of a waterfall.
The 369-square-mile park reserve is about 60 miles southeast of the city of Tacoma, south of Seattle.
The skier was last heard from May 18, before setting out to ski tour above Paradise, rangers wrote in a news release Tuesday. The following day, park rangers initiated a search after she failed to return from runs.
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Helicopter located unresponsive person at waterfall base
Inclement weather and dangerous conditions initially prevented rescue teams from immediately locating the victim, the park service reported.
During a window of favorable weather, the park’s contract helicopter located an unresponsive person who appeared to have fallen nearly 200 feet to the base of a waterfall.
The area was surrounded by "a large, unstable snow moat" was subject to rock and ice fall, which posed too high of an immediate risk to recovery teams.
During another period of favorable weather, rangers said they recovered the body using crevasse rescue methods (by using rope to lower themselves down to the fatality victim).
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Skier's official cause and manner of death pending
The park’s contract helicopter transported the body to Kautz Creek Helibase for evaluation by the Pierce County Medical Examiner.
The medical examiner will determine the woman's official cause and manner of death.
Rangers have not released the victim's name or age.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.