Climber awaits rescue after quakes
Solo ascent of Mount Logan interrupted as poor weather prevents access to area
“She had ascended the hardest part of the route when those earthquakes hit, so there was a lot of avalanches and rockfall.” SIAN WILLIAMS ICEFIELD DISCOVERY
WHITEHORSE— A climber trapped on Canada’s highest mountain was uninjured, healthy and has a good supply of food and fuel, a Parks Canada spokesperson said Wednesday.
Natalia Martinez of Argentina was making a solo ascent of Mount Logan when her plans were disrupted by two powerful earthquakes that jolted the Alaska Panhandle and southwestern Yukon early Monday.
Parks Canada’s Christine Aikens said in an interview the quakes generated avalanches and caused glacial ice to fall in the area of the woman’s camp, which is at 3,900-metre level on the East Ridge of Mount Logan.
She said the visitor safety team from Kluane National Park in Haines Junction, Yukon, was working with Martinez to develop a plan to get her off the mountain. “Weather conditions in the icefields are poor and are preventing any access to the area,” Aikens said in a news release issued later Wednesday.
An official with the company that flew the 37-year-old to the east ridge of Mount Logan several weeks ago said the experienced climber moved her camp to a safer area and was in good shape. “She had ascended the hardest part of the route when those earthquakes hit, so there was a lot of avalanches and rockfall,” said Sian Williams of Icefield Discovery.
“We were very happy to hear that she was safe when we heard from her the morning after the earthquake.”
She said Martinez was dealing with stormy weather and heavy snow that could prevent any rescue until Thursday or Friday.