1981 Mount Rainier avalanche
On June 21, 1981, an avalanche near Ingraham Glacier, in Mount Rainier, struck a climb party attempting to reach the summit of Mount Rainier. Out of the 29 members, 11 were killed, making it the deadliest avalanche in the history of the mountain.[1]
Background
The expedition was organized by Rainier Mountaineering, Inc., a company that took climbers up to the summit with a commonly-used route for $150 (1981 USD).[2]
Prior to the incident, three of the climbers returned to Camp Muir with a guide, while three more guides left to scout snow conditions and avalanche danger.[1]
Incident
At 5:45 am, the glacier's icefall fractured. The three remaining guides, who were atop Disappointment Cleaver at the time, heard the fracture and saw the wall of ice shatter to pieces after colliding with the mountainside. This caused an avalanche of ice and snow to form.[3][1]
Hearing the avalanche, the climbers went together in groups of five and attempted to flee. But eleven were not able to escape and were killed.[1][1] The dead included ten climbers and a guide.[4] The other climbers who were not in the path of the avalanche escaped unscathed and did not receive any injuries.[4]
Aftermath
Following the avalanche, a 19-member search party was organized, although severe snowfall and gale-force winds prevented them from finding the bodies.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e McClary, Daryl C. (August 23, 2014). "Avalanche kills 11 climbers as they ascend Mount Rainier on June 21". HistoryLink. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ a b Jones, Lanse (June 22, 1981). "Blizzard conditions atop Mount Rainier today kept searchers from..." United Press International. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ^ "Centennial Timeline 1980s". Mt. Rainier National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- ^ a b King, Wayne (June 22, 1981). "11 Climbers Missing on Mt. Rainier in Fall of Ice Wall". The New York Times. pp. A1, D8. Retrieved February 21, 2026.