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Mount Rainier Tragedy: Climber Killed by Rockfall
30 Jul
Summary
- A climber died on Mount Rainier's Disappointment Cleaver route.
- The fatal rockfall occurred at 11,600 feet in the early morning.
- The National Park Service ruled the incident as naturally occurring.
A devastating rockfall on Mount Rainier's popular Disappointment Cleaver route resulted in the death of Daihong Chen, 44, of Bellevue, Washington. The incident occurred just after 2:30 a.m. on July 19, at an elevation of 11,600 feet, striking multiple climbers and injuring three others in addition to Chen's fatality.
Following a 10-day investigation, National Park Service rangers have concluded that the rockfall was a naturally occurring event. This route is the most frequently used path to Mount Rainier's summit and is regularly maintained by permitted guide services. Reports of loose rock, particularly in a section known as "The Bowling Alley" below the cleaver itself, are common in climbing community discussions.
Mount Rainier climbing ranger Stefan Lofgren previously noted that nearly 6,000 people ascend the Disappointment Cleaver annually, with a very low fatality rate, typically averaging less than two deaths per season. Chen was described by her husband as an experienced mountaineer who had previously summited Mount Rainier multiple times and had completed over 100 peaks.
