Search and rescue crews recover body of Mount Baker climber who was reported missing

Search and rescue crews on Monday retrieved the body of a climber who died after falling into a Mount Baker crevasse in Whatcom County.

The 39-year-old climber, whom authorities have yet to identify, was reported missing after he didn’t check in with his family Sept. 28. He had left on a solo climb the day before to Mount Baker’s Coleman-Deming route, according to a news release from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.

Search and rescue teams were forced to cut their Sunday, Sept. 29 search short due to poor weather, darkness and difficult terrain. The climber was located in a bergschrund, a type of crevasse, the following day.

A cause of death is still under investigation by the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Rescuers were able to find the man’s body because he had a satellite locator device, the release states.

The recovery was a collaboration between NAS Whidbey SAR, Bellingham Mountain Rescue, CBP AMO and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office SAR Deputy Coordinators.

“We mourn with the family and friends of this intrepid climber,” Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley said in the news release. “It is a heartbreaking outcome, but we are honored to be able to bring him home.”