Six climbers, including two guides, were missing Saturday on Liberty Ridge on Mount Rainier.
Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman Patti Wold said Liberty Ridge is one of the more technical and advanced routes on the mountain.
Wold said two guides with Alpine Ascents International and four clients were reported missing Friday at about 4:30 p.m. PDT.
Wold says the party went in on Monday and were due out Friday.
The last time anyone spoke to them was Wednesday around 6 p.m. via satellite phone. At that time the party was at 12,800 feet with plans to overnight.
Two climbing rangers on board a contract helicopter from Northwest Helicopters are conducting an air search and a U.S. Army Reserve helicopter out of Joint Base Lewis McChord is also providing air support.
Alpine Ascents’ director of programs, Gordon Janow, said he wasn’t ready to release information about the climbers. “Let’s hope they’re found and that it goes well,” he said.
Details — such as ages, gender or home towns — for the climbers were not immediately available.
Mount Rainier, southeast of Seattle, stands at 14,410 feet and attracts thousands of climbers trying to reach its summit every year.
Contributing: The Associated Press
SOURCE: KING-TV, Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.
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