National Park Service ranger dies after falling into crevasse on Denali

A seasonal National Park Service mountaineering ranger, Robin Pendery, died on Thursday afternoon after falling into a crevasse on Denali, also known as Mount McKinley. The incident occurred while she was conducting a climbing patrol near the mountain's 14,000-foot camp at approximately 2 p.m. local time. Pendery was involved in operations at the 14,200-foot camp alongside another ranger at the time of the accident. Despite immediate rescue efforts, Pendery did not survive the fall. The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation. Pendery had been a seasonal ranger at Denali National Park and Preserve since 2024, focusing on emergency response, climber safety, and high-altitude operations. Her death follows a recent incident in which three Latvian climbers died in a fall near Denali Pass, a known hazardous area of the mountain. Denali, standing at 20,310 feet, is recognized as one of the most challenging climbs in North America, with a history of over 130 fatalities.