Six Climbers Missing on Mount Rainier Feared to be Dead

Of the six people, two are guides, from Alpine Ascents International.

Rescue crews are searching for six people who are missing after climbing Liberty Ridge -- 12, 800 feet up -- Mount Rainier in Washington state. Photo: U.S. Forest Service

(SEATTLE, Wash. ) - Rescue crews are searching for six people who are missing after climbing Liberty Ridge -- 12, 800 feet up -- Mount Rainier in Washington state.

Authorities say the last time anyone talked with the group was at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and a second party also climbing in the area reported finding ice axes at the bottom of a cliff.

A private helicopter with two climbing rangers along with a U.S. Army Reserve 214th Air Division Chinook from Joint Base Lewis McChord are providing air support to ground crews.

Of the six people, two are guides, from Alpine Ascents International.

Mount Rainier is 70 miles southeast of Seattle.

UPDATE:

Park rangers now say they believe the climbers fell some 3,000 feet and could not have survived. Authorities added that a helicopter was able to fly low enough, and it detected a beacon signal in the area where the gear was found.