The peak of Denali, seen on a scenic descent passing the popular West Buttress path up Denali, as the U.S. Army-Alaska and National Park Service personnel assist one another setting up a base camp below Denali in the Alaska Range on April 27, 2022. (Zachariah Hughes/ADN)
A mountaineering ranger died Thursday while patrolling Denali, National Park Service officials said.
Denali National Park and Preserve officials said in a statement that ranger Robin Pendery died after falling into a crevasse near the mountain’s 14,000-foot camp while on a climbing patrol at about 2 p.m. The camp is situated along Denali’s West Buttress route, the path used by the vast majority of climbers attempting to summit America’s highest peak.
Officials said National Park Service personnel immediately worked to try to rescue Pendery, but officials otherwise did not provide additional details about the circumstances of the incident.
“Our mountaineering rangers dedicate themselves to serving visitors and helping others in one of the most challenging environments in the world,” Denali Superintendent Brooke Merrell said in the statement. “Today, we mourn the loss of a valued colleague, friend and teammate. Our thoughts are with Robin’s family and loved ones.”
Pendery, of Enumclaw, Washington, joined Denali’s mountaineering staff in 2024, according to the park. In that role, Pendery supported climber safety, emergency response and mountaineering operations on Denali, officials said.
Pendery also worked as a guide for Alpine Ascents International, a mountaineering school and guide company based in Seattle.
She had worked for the company since 2015, said Jonathon Spitzer, Alpine Ascents’ operations director. Pendery was set to resume working as a guide for the company after her seasonal stint with the park service wrapped up, he said.
A webpage listed Pendery as a guide for Denali who has climbed other iconic U.S. peaks such as Mount Rainier and Mount Hood. The page said Pendery also has worked as a nurse, ski patroller and avalanche forecaster.
Spitzer said Pendery would be missed by her colleagues.
“Robin was an amazing person,” he said. “We were so fortunate that she was a guide here.”
Pendery’s death appears to be the fifth on Denali this year.
On May 27, three Latvian climbers died after they fell near Denali Pass at 18,200 feet. Another climber died on May 31 after experiencing a “medical event” at about 18,700 feet while descending from Denali’s summit, park officials previously said in a statement.
