Author: Curt Doolittle

Washington’s Mt Rainier has the most fatalities, largely because of the volume of climbers, the rapidity with which the weather can change.

COMPILATION
Here’s a compilation of the total number of known deaths for some of the top climbing and hiking mountains in the U.S., based on historical data:

Mount Rainier (Washington): Deaths: Over 400 people have died on or near Mount Rainier since the late 19th century, including climbers, hikers, and others due to various causes like falls, avalanches, and natural events.

Mount Washington (New Hampshire): Deaths: Since record-keeping began in 1849, there have been 161 deaths on Mount Washington, attributed to falls, exposure, and severe weather conditions.

Mount Hood (Oregon): Deaths: Since 1829, there have been over 130 recorded deaths on Mount Hood, with many incidents occurring during climbing activities or avalanche events.

Denali (Alaska):
Deaths: Approximately 127 climbers have died on Denali since records began in 1932. This number reflects climbing fatalities and does not include all possible causes like avalanches or other accidents outside of climbing.

Longs Peak (Colorado):Deaths: Approximately 60 people have died on Longs Peak, with many incidents related to falls, hypothermia, or lightning strikes, especially on the Keyhole Route.

Grand Teton (Wyoming):Deaths: Around 50 climbers have died on the Grand Teton since the 1920s, with many of these fatalities occurring on its more technical routes.

Pikes Peak (Colorado):Deaths: Pikes Peak has had around 30-40 climbing or hiking-related deaths since the late 19th century, though this mountain is more accessible, reducing the number of climbing fatalities compared to others.

Capitol Peak (Colorado):Deaths: Capitol Peak has seen around 10 deaths since the 1960s, mainly due to falls on its notoriously dangerous Knife Edge ridge.

Gannett Peak (Wyoming):
Deaths: While exact numbers are less documented, there have been a handful of deaths, primarily related to climbing accidents in this remote location.

Mount Saint Elias (Alaska/Yukon Territory, Canada): Deaths: Although exact numbers are less documented due to fewer expeditions, there have been deaths recorded on this mountain, with at least a handful over the years.