Three climbers on Alaska’s Mount McKinley have died after falling near a treacherous pass on North America’s tallest peak, while a fourth climber was rescued.

The four were members of a Latvian mountaineering expedition, the group announced Friday.

They were part of a seven-person team traversing a route known for its exposed sections — where many injuries and deaths have occurred over the years — when they fell on Wednesday, the National Park Service said.

McKinley stands at 6200m, and the rescued climber was brought off the mountain from around 5200m by Denali National Park and Preserve search and rescue personnel on Thursday afternoon.

A long line from a helicopter was used in the rescue because the terrain and conditions prevented the aircraft from landing, the park service said Friday. The climber was later airlifted to hospital.

The fall happened during the climb near Denali Pass, about 5500m above sea level, the park service said.

The three other members of the climbing group assisted the fallen climbers before returning to a camp at around 5200m, the agency said.

Over the years, many climbing injuries and deaths have occurred on the traverse between an area known as high camp at around 5200m and Denali Pass, mainly resulting from unprotected falls, according to the park.

Most deaths along the pass have happened while climbers were descending.

Only about 1000 to 1200 climbers attempt to reach the summit of Mount McKinley each year, mostly during May and June.

The trip usually takes about 17 days, and fewer than half of climbers reached the summit in 2025, according to park statistics.

More than 130 people have died on the mountain in the history of the park, including two deaths in 2025.