The bad news on Mt. Rainier has now hit home. Â Matt Hegeman of Truckee, California is among the deceased climbers who most likely fell 3,000 vertical feet off the Liberty Ridge route on14,411-foot Mt. Rainier.
Matt was working as a guide for Alpine Ascents International when the accident occurred this week.
The last known whereabouts of the 6 climbers (2 guides and 4 clients) was at 12,800-feet on Liberty Ridge. Â Matt had over 50 climbs of Mt. Rainier.
The bodies of the 6 climbers remain where they landed for now due to rockfall danger keeping rescuers at bay. Â It’s possible that these bodies will never be recovered.
“It would expose our rangers to pretty extreme conditions. Â And, in all honesty, we may never be able to get on the ground there.” –Â Ranger Fawn Bauer
This climbing team was due to finish their climb on Friday. Â Pings from the fallen climbers’Â emergency beacons were picked up at the base of a 3,000-foot rock wall on Saturday.
On average in modern times, 2 climbers die climbing Mt. Rainier per year.
The worst climbing disaster in Rainier history came in 1981 when a massive icefall killed 11 Rainier Mountaineering Inc. guides and clients. Â The only survivor of that incident was guide Peter Whittaker who is the current owner of Rainier Mountaineering Inc.
Since 1897, 95 people have died trying to climb 14,411-foot Mt. Rainier.
This news has hit us hard. Â This hits so close to home. Â Guides and clients perishing is one of the saddest things we can image. Â Again, our hearts go out to all the friends and family.
There is a memorial fund in Matt’s honor to help his widow Ericka with the extra expenses and travel associated with Matt’s passing. Please contribute a few dollars to help Matt’s widow through this difficult time.
http://www.youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/matthew-hegeman-memorial-fund/189783