Rainier bodies recently found have been spotted on the Washington Mountain, in an area not far from where six hikers disappeared and were thought to have perished earlier this year. On Tuesday, Spokeswoman Patti Wold for Mount Rainier National Park said the Rainier bodies found were recently discovered during recent training flights.
The Rainier bodies have reportedly found below Willis Wall at the top of the Carbon Glacier.
According to USA Today, a park service helicopter was flying over the park during training when the Rainier bodies were found near the head of the 9,000-foot Carbon Glacier. The location is known to be unstable due to being at the foot of a steep, rocky wall.
Meanwhile, NBC News reports that officials have been trying to find ways to safely place search crews to the route the missing climbers have taken when contact with them was lost May 28.
Other methods of recovery of the bodies are also currently being explored by park officials, according to Q13 Fox News. Apparently, the location of the Rainier bodies has rock and ice falling off the steep wall. There is also an increase in new crevasses in the glacier below making the area one of the most dangerous areas in the park.
Wold said, 'Right now we're considering options for discovery. The location where they are isn't safe to put anyone in.'
Another factor which made the location of the Rainier bodies more perilous is the summer heat. The weather reportedly increased the potential for falling rocks and ice.
According to Q13 Fox News, the Liberty Ridge climbing route is now currently closed due to unstable conditions caused by increased rock and icefall from the warm weather.
Wold said, the warmth of summer have made the ice no longer able to hold things solid. Therefore the ridge has been closed to all climbers, including search crews for the Rainier bodies.
Wold also stated, 'It's one of the most dangerous areas to put someone into the park.' She added that until the authorities have made it to the site safely, there is no way to confirm that the three Rainier bodies were indeed from the team of climbers who have gone missing in May.
USA Today reports that the missing group were composed of two guides and four climbers. As they have gone missing in May, they were also presumed dead while climbing the steep Liberty Ridge route toward the summit.
However, as they attempted to reach the mountain's summit, the weather turned bad, they lost contact with authorities and since then their bodies have not been found.
Though the group was extremely capable of the climb as they were experienced, the area where the Rainier bodies have recently been found is known to be regularly bombarded with ice falling from glaciers. It is beyond doubt still a dangerous climb to experience.
USA Today said park rangers were also able to find camping and climbing gear 3,000 feet below the ridge, near the area with the Rainier bodies. The gear were believed to have fallen from avalanche victims.
The May incident is thought to have been the worst accident on Mount Rainier since 1981, when 11 climbers died.
Rainier bodies found recently are still awaiting recovery from authorities in order to determine if they were indeed part of the climbers who have gone missing in May. Mount Rainier, located on the southeast of Seattle, rises 14,410 feet above sea level. It reportedly attracts climbers of all levels.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
