A tragic accident occurred on June 2, 2025, when a 41-year-old climber fell over 3,000 feet from Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. The climber, Alex Chiu from Seattle, Washington, was navigating the West Buttress climbing route on the Peters Glacier when the incident took place.

According to the National Park Service, Chiu was part of a three-member expedition. His companions reported that he fell at a location known as Squirrel Point, which is characterized by an exposed rocky and serac-covered face. After witnessing the fall, the other climbers attempted to lower themselves over the edge to locate Chiu but were unable to see or hear him. They then descended the mountain to seek help.

Due to severe weather conditions, including high winds and snow, rescue teams were unable to reach the accident site until early Wednesday morning. The clearing weather on the north side of the Alaska Range allowed two mountaineering rangers to conduct an aerial helicopter search to locate and recover Chiu's body.

After the recovery, Chiu's body was transported back to Denali National Park and Preserve headquarters, where it was handed over to the state medical examiner. This incident marks a continuation of a concerning trend, as Chiu is among several climbers who have died in falls along this section of the West Buttress route since 1980.

Currently, there are approximately 500 climbers on Mount McKinley, as the climbing season typically runs from early May to early July. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Chiu's fall is ongoing.