Mount Rainier Tragedy

Six climbers have fallen on Mount Rainier and are presumed dead, it is one of the worst accidents ever on the Washington peak.

A helicopter spotted camping and climbing gear in the avalanche-prone area.

It is believed the group fell 1,000 metres from their last known whereabouts of 3,900 metres on Liberty Ridge, Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman Patricia Wold said in a statement.

“There’s not a viable chance of survival,” park Ranger Fawn Bauer told The Associated Press.

The search has been called off, “it would expose our rangers to pretty extreme conditions,” Bauer said. “And, in all honesty, we may never be able to get on the ground there.”