52-year-old Seattle man dies in Mount Rainier fall

A Seattle man who died from a fall into a crevasse on Mount Rainier was a beloved climber well known in the city's climbing circles for his spirited energy on mountains.

Lee F. Adams, 52, was part of a four-man crew descending the mountain on Emmons Glacier at about 13,000 feet Tuesday when the last person on the rope tripped and fell. The men were swept off their feet, couldn't stop their fall and plummeted into a crevasse, where Adams died on impact, according to officials at Mount Rainier National Park.

Another climber was hurt, and the two others avoided injury when they fell onto a false floor. Adams fell further, said park spokeswoman Lee Taylor.

"Big shock ... I'm just surprised it was Lee," said Fred Slater, a member of the Washington Alpine Club, where Adams helped teach for many years. "We all expected him to continue climbing well into his 60s. He was so fast. No one could ever keep up with Lee. He would outclimb and out-hike anybody."

Slater said the accident was unusual because in summer the mountain's crevasses are visible, but he said Adams' death shows accidents can happen to anybody.

The three surviving climbers were able to climb out of the crevasse to reach Camp Schurman at 9,450 feet, where they spent Tuesday night in company of climbing rangers, Taylor said. Two of climbers were expected to climb down the mountain Wednesday. The injured climber would be air lifted.

Park rangers will inspect the scene of the accident Wednesday to locate Adams' body, which will be flown off the mountain.

Slater described Adams as generous, enthusiastic, naturally athletic, and consistently sensible.