Missing Snowshoer's Body Found on Mount Rainier

Rangers have recovered the body of a young man killed by an avalanche on Mount Rainier.

The body of a 22-year-old Washington man killed in an avalanche on Mount Rainier National Park has been recovered.

Searchers found Kirk Reiser's body about 4 p.m. Friday at the base of a small waterfall in the Edith Creek Basin on Mount Rainier about one mile north of Paradise.

The Lynnwood, Washington, man was swept to his death Tuesday afternoon. He and a friend, Troy Metcalf, had tried to reach Camp Muir from Paradise on snowshoes, but severe weather forced them back. On the way back down an avalanche swept over Mr. Reiser.

While poor weather conditions hampered the search Thursday, search crews returned to the area Friday and, after using explosives to reduce avalanche danger, found Mr. Reiser's body under several feet of snow about 4 p.m.

Rangers were able to remove the man's body from the mountain about 6 p.m. Friday.