Belgian mountaineer dies in a fall on McKinley

Belgian mountaineer killed on McKinley

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A mountaineer from Belgium has died in a fall on Alaska’s Mount McKinley.

The National Park Service says the accident occurred Monday afternoon on a highly technical section of the Cassin Ridge on North America’s highest mountain.

Park officials say 27-year-old Joris Van Reeth of Borgerhout, Belgium, was leading the way when his climbing anchor likely failed and he fell about 100 feet in rocky terrain.

Van Reeth fell to where his partner, 24-year-old Sam Van Brempt, was positioned.

Van Brempt was not injured. After confirming that his climbing partner was dead, he used his satellite phone to call Denali National Park officials.

The death is the second on McKinley this climbing season. A 51-year-old French climber died last month.