A training climb in Washington's North Cascade Mountains ended badly with three climbers killed by rockslides and another injured.
The accident was the deadliest in the history of The Mountaineers, one of the area's best-known climbing groups, the Seattle Times said Tuesday.
A six-person group was trying to climb Sharkfin Tower, a spike of rock in North Cascades National Park. The climbers failed the attempt and were on their way down when veteran climber Johanna Backus of Tacoma was hit by a rock.
As the other climbers assisted Backus, a larger rock struck the group. Backus and Mark Harrison, an ex-Marine from Bellevue, were killed instantly.
An experienced climber, Michael Hannam, left student Janel Fox with the bodies and the two injured men while he went for help. John Augenstine died from his injuries, while the other man, Wayne McCourt, a student, survived.
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