Juergen Kanzian, 41, a mountain guide from Koetschach-Mauthen, Austria, was last seen on skis about 8 p.m. Monday. He was climbing toward Denali Pass, at the 18,000-foot level of the mountain, according to the Park Service.
Kanzian told other climbers he planned to ski down the popular West Buttress route from the summit, a Park Service statement said.
Of the 1,000 or more climbers who attempt McKinley every year, five to 10 use skis to descend parts of the mountain, said mountaineering ranger Tucker Chenoweth."What is uncommon is to go skiing up there alone," he said.
Several feet of snow had fallen in the two days prior to Kanzian's disappearance, the Park Service said. The temperature was between 0 and 5 degrees high on the mountain when he went missing. Kanzian is believed to have warm clothes and a satellite phone.
By Tuesday night, Kanzian had not returned to his camp at 17,200 feet. A guided climbing team alerted rangers, according to the Park Service. Rangers on Wednesday searched the mountain with a spotting scope, and climbers heading for the summit were told to be on the lookout for Kanzian, the Park Service said.
At 20,320-feet, Mount McKinley is the tallest peak in North America. Five people have died on the mountain this year.
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