Seattle man dies after 3,000-foot fall while climbing Denali’s West Buttress

A tragic incident occurred at Denali National Park in Alaska, where a Seattle man lost his life after falling 3,000 feet from a climbing route. The victim, Alex Chiu, 41, was ski mountaineering on the West Buttress route of Mount McKinley when the accident happened. He was not attached to a rope at the time of the fall, which ultimately led to his death.

Chiu was accompanied by two others in his expedition to conquer North America’s highest peak. Unfortunately, they witnessed his fall onto the rocky face covered in jagged ice and attempted to lower themselves over the edge to assist him. Despite their efforts, they could not see or hear him after the fall.

The recovery of Chiu’s body took place on Wednesday morning, following the tragic incident on Monday. Chiu, originally from Seattle, Washington, was an aerospace engineer at the Federal Aviation Administration and had previously worked as a software engineer at Boeing. Known for his adventurous spirit, he described himself as a storyteller, traveler, scuba diver, rock climber, alpinist, and marathon runner on his social media accounts.

In one of his Instagram posts, Chiu expressed his passion for the mountains and the joy he found in wild places. Living in Seattle allowed him to pursue his love for ice climbing every weekend, where he excelled in his skills and even started teaching others. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Chiu remained determined to continue pursuing his alpine climbs.

Tragically, Chiu’s dream of climbing the third-highest peak in the world led him to Alaska, where the fatal accident occurred. The busy climbing season at Mount McKinley typically lasts from mid-May to mid-June, with around 500 climbers on the mountain at any given time. Unfortunately, Chiu is not the first to lose his life while climbing in Denali National Park, as similar accidents have occurred in the past.

In light of this heartbreaking incident, it serves as a reminder of the risks associated with mountaineering and the importance of safety precautions while engaging in such activities. The National Park Service continues to monitor the situation and provide support to the family and friends of Alex Chiu during this difficult time.