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Crevasse Claims Colorado Mountaineer At Denali National Park

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By NPT Staff - May 4th, 2021
he red dot indicates the location of the fall. The summit of Denali is about 20 miles west/NPS

The red dot indicates the location of the fall. The summit of Denali is about 20 miles west

A 28-year-old Colorado mountaineer lost his life when he fell into a crevasse at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska.

Mason Stansfield, of Ouray, Colorado, and a friend were skiing near the Eldridge Glacier about 20 miles from the summit of Denali when he fell into the crevasse, according to a park release. His companion, who reached rangers Monday afternoon via an InReach message, told park staff that he couldn't see or hear Stansfield.

The park’s high-altitude helicopter pilot and two mountaineering rangers departed the Talkeetna State Airport within 30 minutes of the emergency communication. The rescuers flew direct to the party’s GPS coordinates located on the South Spur of the Eldridge Glacier in gently sloping terrain at an elevation just under 8,000 feet.

While the helicopter pilot immediately returned to Talkeetna to pick up two more Park Service rescuers, one of the mountaineering rangers on scene was lowered into the crevasse. Upon reaching the fallen skier approximately 100 feet below the glacier surface, the ranger confirmed the skier had died in the fall. 

The skier’s uninjured partner was transported back to Talkeetna. Denali mountaineering rangers recovered Stansfield’s remains later that evening.

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