July 14, 2001 - Hiking Fatality at Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park

Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park,

German hiker H.H. missed his prearranged backcountry pickup flight. State troopers, rangers and an Air National Guard helicopter were committed to the search. Rangers found H.H.'s body two days later. It appears from the position of the body that he fell while scrambling on an unstable rock slope. His body was found in a remote location at the 9,000-foot elevation. The incident commander determined that the rock on the mountain would not hold anchors and that it would not be safe to attempt to use a technical climbing team to retrieve H.H.'s body. Troopers and rangers from both Wrangell - St. Elias and Denali recovered the remains on July 11th.