MAZAMA — A climbing trip turned deadly Saturday when three climbers from Renton fell to their deaths while descending North Early Winters Spire, a granite peak located about 16 miles west of Mazama.
According to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, the group of four was rappelling down a steep gully when their anchor apparently failed, sending three of the climbers falling. The fourth climber survived the fall and was able to hike out of the rugged terrain to call for help.
The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on May 11. Responders from the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office and Okanogan County Search and Rescue volunteers were dispatched to the scene. Due to the technical and mountainous nature of the terrain, the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team was called in to recover the bodies of the three deceased climbers…