Climber falls 1,200 feet to his death in Mount St. Helens crater

An experienced climber who was traversing the crater of Mount St. Helens, a volcano in Washington, was found dead on Saturday after officials say he fell roughly 1,200 feet from the summit.

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office shared in a statement that Roscoe "Rocky" Shorey, a 42-year-old from Washougal, Washington, was found dead on Saturday after he attempted to snowboard on the mountain.

The sheriff’s office described Shorey as “an experienced mountain climber,” with a climbing resume that included reaching the summit of Mount St. Helens 28 times.

Officials believe that when Shorey reached the summit he encountered an enormous cornice —an overhanging block of snow that is often tightly-packed atop a mountain crest or ridge — that proceeded to break away from the rest of the volcano and crashed into the crater.

A group of climbers located Shorey’s body at around 7 a.m. on Saturday after they reached the summit and then noticed several personal items around the rim of the crater that belonged to the climber, including his backpack.

The group notified the police of their find, and search and rescue teams were dispatched. They were able to successfully recover the body after being airlifted into the crater itself and then walking on foot to the remains.

“The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind climbers of the dangers warmer weather brings to the local mountain attractions,” their statement said.

A more thorough report is expected in the coming days, though the Northwest Avalanche Center agreed with the sheriff’s office assessment of how Shorey met his fate.

“NWAC is saddened to report an avalanche fatality as a result of a cornice fall on Mount St. Helens,” the center said in a statement. “On Friday, March 29, 2024, a snowboarder summited the peak. While standing near the top, he triggered a cornice and fell to his death. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community.”