The body of a female skier, who was last heard from on May 18, was discovered in Mount Rainier National Park after three weeks, according to the National Park Service's recent announcement on Tuesday.
Search efforts began on May 19 after receiving a report of a missing skier who had embarked on a ski tour above the Paradise area of the park.
A team comprising four rangers and two volunteers conducted ground searches, while the park's contracted helicopter spotted an unresponsive individual during a reconnaissance flight amidst favorable weather conditions.
The skier's body was located at the base of Pebble Creek's Moraine Falls, situated above Paradise. It appeared that she had fallen approximately 200 feet to the base of a waterfall.
The recovery operation faced challenges due to the presence of a large, unstable snow moat surrounding the area, which increased the risk of rock and ice falls, rendering it unsafe for immediate retrieval.
Despite discovering the body within a day, rescue teams were unable to commence recovery efforts until Saturday due to hazardous weather conditions, as stated by Patti Wold.
Following the retrieval of the skier's body by park rangers, it was transported via helicopter to the Kautz Creek Helibase for examination by the Pierce County Medical Examiner, as per the National Park Service.
The recovery operation highlights the challenging conditions and risks associated with search and rescue efforts in mountainous terrains, emphasizing the importance of safety measures and preparedness for outdoor activities.