Mountaineer Fall Nearly 2,000 on Mt. McKinley

The National Park Service says Ilkka Uusitalo fell Wednesday while skiing down the 40- to 45-degree slope known as "Orient Express."

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by Associated Press

Story Created: May 25, 2012 at 3:05 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 25, 2012 at 3:05 PM AKDT

A 36-year-old Finnish mountaineer has died of injuries from a fall of nearly 2,000 feet on Mount McKinley.

The National Park Service says Ilkka Uusitalo fell Wednesday while skiing down the 40- to 45-degree slope known as "Orient Express."

He was with two other mountaineers at 17,800 feet.The Park Service says Uusitalo tumbled through snow, ice and rocks. He came to a stop in a crevasse at 15,850 feet.

One of his teammates skied to the ranger camp at 14,200 feet for
assistance. With the help of another team, Uusitalo's other companion rappelled into the crevasse and found Uusitalo dead.

A response team brought the body to the glacier surface. The death is the second fatality on the mountain this climbing season.
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