Experienced Climber Found Dead in Mount St. Helens Volcano Crater — 1,200 Feet Below the Summit

Mar. 15, 2025

Roscoe Shorey.Photo:Rocky Shorey/Instagram

Rocky Shorey/Instagram

A mountain climber was found dead within the crater of Washington state’s Mount St. Helens on March 30, authorities said.

In an April 1 statement from theSkamania County Sheriff’s Office, a climbing group reached the summit of the volcano near the Monitor Ridge Climbing Route after authorities were notified on the morning of March 30 of a body discovered.

“The climbing group located a backpack, digital recording devices and other personal effects near the rim of the crater,” per the sheriff’s office statement. “Near the personal belongings, a snow cornice near the rim fractured and fell into the crater of the mountain."

“The climbing group reported observing a motionless person within the crater of the volcano approximately 1200 feet below the summit,” the statement continued.

“Roscoe Shorey was an experienced mountain climber and had successfully summitted MT St Helens 28 times prior to this accident,” per the statement, adding, “The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office offers their condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Shorey.”

The sheriff’s office coordinated a mission to recover Shorey’s body that involved a rescue team being airlifted to the volcano’s crater. From there, the team traveled on foot to the recovery site.

The victim’s body was transported to the incident command at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park, per the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.

Skamania County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

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TheNorthwest Avalanche Centerposted a statement on March 30, based on a preliminary report, that Shorey’s death was the result of acornice(defined as an overhanging mass of snow) fall.

“While standing near the top, he triggered a cornice and fell to his death,” the organization said.

“Large cornices still overhang many steep alpine slopes,” it added. “They often fail much farther back than expected. During these warm, sunny periods, they can become weaker and easier to trigger.”

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office echoed a similar sentiment in its statement, cautioning climbers: “Snow cornices are difficult to detect and become weaker during warm, sunny periods.”

Bret Barnum, a longtime friend of Shorey, toldNBC affiliate KGWthat Shorey was a sky-diving instructor in addition to being a mountaineer. “In 42 years, that guy lived a hundred years of life easily,” Barnum said. “I was fortunate enough to be able to hop in the car and take a ride with him. Every time we could go out, it was an adventure.”

source: people.com