Reports indicate that six climbers fell to their deaths on Mount Rainier this weekend.Â
While details remain unclear, officials believe the group fell 3,000 feet on the Liberty Ridge route, one of the more technically difficult lines. Searchers came to that conclusion after detecting pings from the climbers’ emergency beacons at around 9,000 feet. 14,410-foot Mount Rainier is located about 90 miles south of Seattle, Washington.
The group of six includes two climbing guides from Alpine Ascents International and four clients. They were last heard from Wednesday at 6 p.m. when they reported that they were at 12,800 feet. Due to weather, the group is thought to have then descended to 12,000 feet.
When rescuers searched the area Saturday, they spotted debris, but no signs of life, at 9,000-foot where pings from six emergency beacons were detected.Â
“There is no viable way they could have survived,” Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman Patricia Wold told KOMO News.Â
Update: New reports suggest that the group, led by guides Eitan Green and Matt Hegeman, was caught in an avalanche on the mountain.Â