Avalanches in History:
Mt. Rainier Avalanche, June 21, 1981
Mt. Rainier Avalanche, June 21, 1981
On this day, eleven people fought their way through the rubble
and out of a massive avalanche; eleven others didn't. This avalanche
is still known as the worst tragedy in American climbing history. At
4
AM, twenty-nine climbers continued their journey up the icy slopes
to the summit of Mt. Rainier. Lead guide, John Ronald Day recalled having excellent conditions and
an easy walking surface. At 5:30
AM, three climbers accompanied
by a guide decided to turn back
AM, twenty-nine climbers continued their journey up the icy slopes
to the summit of Mt. Rainier. Lead guide, John Ronald Day recalled having excellent conditions and
an easy walking surface. At 5:30
AM, three climbers accompanied
by a guide decided to turn back
for lack of stamina. Little did they know how lucky they were about
to become. Shortly after, three guides climed ahead to check conditions, and found that the group should not go on. On the way back down to inform the others, a piece of the mountain fell away, hit the ground, and erupted in an explosion of snow. At 6 AM on a beautiful spring morning, eleven climbers were swept into a seventy foot crevasse where they still remain today.
to become. Shortly after, three guides climed ahead to check conditions, and found that the group should not go on. On the way back down to inform the others, a piece of the mountain fell away, hit the ground, and erupted in an explosion of snow. At 6 AM on a beautiful spring morning, eleven climbers were swept into a seventy foot crevasse where they still remain today.
