Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 12:01:17 +0000 From: Bruce Bowler Anchorage Daily News 6/17/96 MEXICAN CLIMBER LOST ON ST. ELIAS GLENNALLEN - Park Rangers on Mount St. Elias say a Mexican climber is missing after an avalanche near the 10,400-foot level of the 18,008-foot mountain. Luis Villalobos of Guadalajara was climbing with four friends early last Wednesday when the entire party was swept down the mountain. The four others were able to free themselves, but Villalobos still is missing. Rangers said search efforts have been hampered by high winds and unstable snow conditions. Mount St. Elias, the continent's second-highest peak, is on the Alaska-Canadian border at the northern end of the Panhandle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 12, 1996, Mount St. Elias (18,005 feet), Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska 4 climbers caught and buried in their tent; 1 climber buried outside and killed While climbing Mount Saint Elias five Mexican climbers were struck by a slab avalanche. A severe storm had pinned the climbers in their tent at the 10,400-foot level on the south face of the mountain. For two days the climbers took turns shoveling snow from their tent, and it was during one of these shovel forays when the avalanche struck. A 25-year-old climber was outside the tent when the avalanche crashed into their camp site at 0300 hrs. He was swept away,buried and killed. His four tent-mates were also swept down the slope and buried inside the tent but were able to dig free. The four survivors searched and probed the area finding only some gear, their boots and a backpack that contained their radio. They were not carrying avalanche rescue beacons. On June 14 the survivors were finally able to make contact with a passing Northwest Airlines jet that in-turn notified authorities. At 1500 hrs that afternoon Alaska State Troopers were notified of the accident and initated the rescue for the survivors. Local pilot Paul Claus flew to the accident site later that afternoon and flew out the survivors. Then late Friday afternoon (June 15) a Canadian helicopter with an Alaska State Trooper and one of the survivors returned to the accident site. However, high winds and unstable snow conditions prevented their landing. This was the 28th avalanche fatality of the 1995-96 season. Steve Wilhelnia, of Alaska State Troopers