Updated January 23, 2026 04:02PM
The Bodies of the Missing Climbers Have Been Recovered from Mount Rainier
Winter climbing in Mount Rainier National Park is technical and, when paired with extreme weather conditions, can turn deadly in an instant.
The two climbers were reported overdue on January 18
January 23 Update, 4:00 P.M. MDT: Officials have identified one of the climbers as 51-year-old Jiri Richter.
Search and rescue personnel have recovered the bodies of two climbers on Mount Rainier. Neither their identities nor the cause of death have been made publicly available at the time of this publication.
Scott Clemans, spokesperson for the National Park Service (NPS), confirmed to Outside that the bodies of the two individuals were recovered from the Wilson Glacier area at an elevation of around 9,600 feet.
On January 23, Pierce County medical examiner identified one of the climbers as Jiri Richter, 51. His cause of death is listed as multiple blunt force injuries. The identity of the second climber has not yet been released.
Climbers on Mount Rainier are required to self-register for winter permits. Park rangers reviewing climbing permits noticed on January 18 that the two climbers had not returned on the date and time they were expected. When the rangers reached out to the emergency contacts listed on the permits, they were told that the two hadn’t been heard from since the day before, on January 17.
“Rangers later located the climbers’ vehicle in the Paradise parking lot. Searchers using spotting equipment subsequently observed two non-ambulatory individuals near Wilson Glacier,” Clemens said.
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It’s unclear what route the climbers were attempting, though Wilson Glacier is a climbing spot known to feed into an impressive 300-foot waterfall, Wilson Glacier Falls. Weather conditions on January 19 prevented aviation teams from accessing the area where the climbers were spotted. Ground teams recovered their bodies the following day.
Climbers hoping to summit Mount Rainier can expect technical terrain that requires rope skills and the ability to ascend and descend a mountain safely, according to the NPS. Reaching the summit of Mount Rainier via any route requires an elevation gain of more than 9,000 feet and over ten miles of distance.
“Weather, snow, and route conditions can change rapidly, making the difference between a pleasant and rewarding experience or a tragedy,” writes the NPS. “During your climb, turn back if weather conditions deteriorate.”
This is a developing story.
