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Mountaineer Dies In Ski Descent Of Denali

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A mountaineer trying to descend Denali on skis died in a fall of roughly 1,500 feet, according to park officials/NPS

A mountaineer from the Czech Republic who was attempting a ski descent of Denali, the highest mountain in the United States at 20,310 feet, died from a roughly 1,500-foot fall on the Messner Couloir.

Denali National Park and Preserve officials say 45-year-old Pavel Michut, from the village of Hutisko Solanec, fell from an elevation of 17,000 feet on the route during his descent on Saturday.

The event was witnessed by multiple parties at the 14,200-foot camp on Denali.

"A nearby climbing team was on scene within 10 minutes and determined that the skier had died of multiple traumatic injuries suffered in the fall," a park release said. "NPS mountaineering rangers arrived on scene shortly thereafter and recovered the climber’s remains."

The 5,000-foot-long Messner Couloir is a steep, 35-to-55 degree gully that connects the 14,000-foot basin and the upper mountain at 19,000 feet. At the time of the fall, conditions on the upper mountain were wind-scoured and hard-packed following repeated days of extreme winds, the park reported.

Michut’s remains will be flown from the 14,200-foot camp once weather conditions allow, and then transferred to the State of Alaska Medical Examiner.

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