Search to resume Saturday for climber missing near Mount Rainier summit

Climber missing near Mount Rainier summit

ASHFORD, Wash. — A National Parks spokeswoman says a daylong search for a 57-year-old climber who unclipped his rope and vanished near Mount Rainier’s summit has concluded without locating the man.

Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman Lee Taylor says Friday’s search for Eric Lewis of Duvall, Wash., involved teams of climbing rangers and commercial mountain guides. Two helicopters also searched when weather permitted. The top of the 14,410-foot peak was swathed in a heavy cloud layer.

Taylor says the search will resume Saturday.

She says Lewis and two climbing partners were near the 14,000-foot level Thursday in low visibility with Lewis last on the rope line. When the first two climbers stopped to rest, they discovered Lewis was no longer with them. Searchers found his backpack at 13,600 feet.