A hard-packed stretch of mountain claimed a Washington state climber's life as she fell down while descending Mount McKinley, the Associated Press reported.
The 39-year-old's body was spotted by a helicopter crew after strong winds subsided and allowed flights to search on Wednesday night.
Sylvia Montag, of Tacoma, had gotten separated from her climbing partner and may have died as early as Monday, the park service said.
"Montag and Mike Fuchs, 34, of Berlin, Germany, were posting audio and written accounts of their early season attempt to climb North America's highest peak," the AP reported.
"Montag was a licensed doctor in Washington. She was an experienced high-altitude climber, but she had not attempted the 20,322-foot peak before, National Park Service spokeswoman Maureen Gualtieri said."
After beginning their ascent on Muldrow Glacier April 15, the climbers reached Denali Pass, a notch in the mountain at 18,200 feet on Saturday.
They were forced to stop and camp near the pass for two nights due to 50mph turbulent winds. On Monday, they became separated after starting to move down.
After Fuchs lost contact with Montag, he contacted park service rangers at the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station by satellite phone at 11 a.m. from the 17,200-foot High Camp on the West Buttress of the mountain.
Eleven other deaths have occurred at the traverse between Denali Pass and the High Camp, Gualtieri said. The route requires climbers to ascend or descend diagonally.
According to the AP, Jesse McLaughlin recently met Montag while both were training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at a gym in Tacoma.
"She was the toughest person in that group of tough people," McLaughlin said.
She trained there three or more times a week, he said.
"She was training for the climb," McLaughlin said. "She was a fun part of our mat club."
