by Channel 2 News staff
Monday, May 31, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- An avalanche in the Ruth Gorge of Denali National Park killed two climbers on Saturday.
Canadian Andrew Herzenberg and Israeli Avner Magen were descending a steep gully between Werewolf and London Towers when the slide came down.
Another climbing team saw the slide, spotted the bodies of Herzenberg and Magen, and called park rangers.
Small avalanches aren't unusual at this time of year in the Alaska Range, but park spokesperson Maureen McLaughlin says the long stretch of clear weather may have played a role.
"From what I understand, this avalanche took place in the early afternoon on a pretty bright, sunny day that, it could be assumed, that warmer temps had -- the snow had gotten slushier and heavier, and that had fallen down that chute," McLaughlin said.
