National Park mountain guide dies in fall on Mount McKinley

A National Park Service mountain guide died when she fell into a crevasse on Mount McKinley, officials said Friday.

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Robin Pendery, a seasonal mountaineering ranger assigned to Denali National Park and Preserve, died Thurdsay, the National Park service said in a statement. In a “field update” published online Monday, the park service characterized Pendery as one of two people “in charge” of the mountain’s 14,000 Foot Camp, accessible by helicopter.

Pendery was from Enumclaw, Washington, according to the agency, which did not provide an age.

Pendery was assigned to “climbing patrol” at the time of the fall near 14,000 Foot Camp, the park service said.

“Despite rescue efforts, the employee did not survive,” the agency said.

The agency said it is investigating how Pendery’s fall happened on the mountain with North America’s highest peak.

Temperatures were around 67 degrees on the mountain Thursday, with cloudy conditions and winds of 5 mph, according to National Weather Service data. The ground had ample snow coverage, the park service reported Monday, with 2 feet of snow having fallen the previous weekend at the 11,200-foot level.

Pendery had ben a Denali park mountaineering staff member since 2024, the park service said, adding that she worked in the fields of climber safety, emergency response, and mountaineering operations.

The park service also said that she’s also worked as a nurse and helped provide medical response on the mountain.

Seattle-based Alpine Ascents International had previously employed Pendery as a Washington and Alaska guide with certification in multiple facets of climbing.

Gordon Janow, Alpine Ascents’ director of programs, said the loss is “devastating for us.”

“She was the consummate professional, compassionate, thorough, with an infectious love for the mountains,” he said by email.

Brooke Merrell, superintendent of Denali National Park and Preserve, said in the park service statement that those who worked with Pendery “are heartbroken.”

“Our mountaineering rangers dedicate themselves to serving visitors and helping others in one of the most challenging environments in the world,” she said. “Today, we mourn the loss of a valued colleague, friend and teammate.”