Park ranger dies after falling into a crevasse on Alaska's Mount McKinley

Robin Pendery died after she fell while climbing on patrol on the mountain known locally as Denali

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A ranger in Alaska died after falling into a crevasse on North America’s tallest mountain, the US National Park Service said.

Robin Pendery fell on Thursday while on climbing patrol on the mountain whose locally given name is Denali. She died despite immediate rescue efforts, the park service said.

Pendery, of Enumclaw, Washington, was a seasonal mountaineering ranger assigned to the Denali national park and preserve.

The death is under investigation. It came only a week after three climbers from a Latvian mountaineering expedition died after falling near a treacherous pass on Denali, which the US government has referred to at various points as Mount McKinley, including during the second Trump administration.

A fourth climber participating in that expedition was rescued. They were part of a seven-person team traversing a route known for its exposed sections, where many climbers have died or been injured over the years.

The mountain stands at about 20,310ft (6,190 meters) above sea level, and Pendery fell near a camp at 14,000ft (4,328 meters).

“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 a statement on Friday. “Today, we mourn the loss of a valued colleague, friend and teammate.”