Climbing
On Thursday evening, April 25, two climbers fell approximately 1,000 feet while ascending Mount Johnson, in Denali National Park, Alaska. A female climber, aged 52, died in the fall while her partner, aged 30, sustained serious traumatic injuries. The deceased climber has been identified as Robbi Mecus, from Keene Valley, New York, who had been a forest ranger for the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Adirondack region for 25 years. Aside from having assisted in hundreds of search and rescues herself, Mecus was also an advocate in the LGBTQ+ community. Her partner, Melissa Orzechowski, survived the fall with serious injuries.
”Sheriff Favro and the members of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office mourn the passing of beloved New York State Forest Ranger Robbi Mecus. Mecus was a strong Forest Ranger and strong local LGBTQ+ community advocate. Mecus spent her time saving lives in the various rescues that she was a part of. She went where few dared to. She was instrumental in assisting and training our local Tri-County Special Response Team in search and rescue. Though we mourn her passing, we hope her legacy lives on with understanding and respect for those who may walk a different path than we may and that our law enforcement officers use the skills that she taught them to pass the gift of life on to those in need.”
— Clinton County Sheriff’s Office
According to a press release by National Park Services (NPS), the roped climbers were ascending Mount Johnson, which has a peak elevation of 8,400 feet, on a route known as “the Escalator.” The route via the southeast face is a steep and technical alpine climb of 5,000 feet length with a mix of steep rock, ice, and snow, which both of the experienced climbers had climbed before. The accident was witnessed by another climbing group, who notified the Alaska Regional Communication Center at approximately 10:45 p.m. They then climbed to the accident victims where they confirmed the death of Robbi Mecus, and attended to Melissa Orzechowski’s injuries. Since search and rescue could not get to them, they dug a snow cave for the night and attended her injuries throughout the night. On Friday morning, April 26, the park’s high altitude rescue helicopter pilot and two mountaineering rangers evacuated the injured patient and she was transferred to a LifeMed air ambulance at the Talkeetna State Airport and was flown to a hospital in Anchorage.
The rescue helicopter returned to Mount Johnson, but inclement weather prevented the recovery of Mecus’ body. NPS rangers could only return to the site safely on Saturday, April 27, to recover her body. Denali National Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell said “We are grateful for the rescue efforts of Denali mountaineering rangers and the two good Samaritans on Mount Johnson who helped save a fellow climber’s life. We extend our thoughts and condolences to the friends and family of Robbi Mecus”.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been started by friends of Melissa Orzechowski to help with costs associated with her recovery and has raised around $50,000. A separate fundraiser for Robbi Mecus’ family also attracted a similar amount. The pair have a daughter, Hazel, who is 11 years old.
