Leclerc (left) and Johnson, went missing a week ago. Photo: Leclerc, Arc’teryx, Johnson, GoFundme
Two climbers who were scaling the Mendenhall Towers north of Juneau, Alaska this week have been presumed dead. Ryan Johnson, 34, of Juneau and Marc-Andre Leclerc, 25, of British Columbia were attempting the climb that’s a centerpiece of the Juneau Icefield, a large expanse of glaciated terrain.
The Mendenhall Towers are a series of “seven massifs” rising from the glacier with a number of different routes. Johnson and Leclerc were apparently on “the fourth tower.”
The climbers were reported missing a week ago and the weather has been suspect during that time across the Pacific Northwest. But in between storms, authorities dispatched a Coastal Helicopter to search for the pair. Megan Peters, a spokeswoman with the Alaska State Troopers told the media that a rope was seen attached to the spire’s north face and that searchers also found gear in a crevasse midway down the same climb.
“They were able to see some climbing ropes that matched the description of what the climbers used,” Peters said.
Peters added that there would not be a recovery effort at this time due to dangerous conditions and that the authorities were able to pinpoint the climbers’ location thanks to RECCO reflectors, small devices that give off a signal and are now built into some gear like helmets, boots and clothing.
The southern slopes of the Mendenhall Towers. Johnson and Leclerc went missing on the opposite exposure. Photo: Mountain Project
The north faces of these towers are notably, “less clean” and longer than those on the south. But the two climbers were apparently up for the task as both were experienced alpinists. Johnson had scaled the towers multiple times and apparently had received a climbing grant this year from the American Alpine Club. Leclerc had been called a “prodigy” and was sponsored by Arc’teryx, according to reports. Johnson had a two-year-old son, Milo.
Marc-Andre’s father, Serge Leclerc left a heart-wrenching message on his Facebook page yesterday when he learned of his son’s fate: “To all of our friends near and far who have been supporting us and praying for Marc André I wanted you all to hear it from me first before it’s in the news. Sadly we have lost 2 really great climbers and I lost a son I am very proud of. Thank you for the support during this difficult time. My heart is so broken…Part of me is gone with him…”
Editor’s Note: Gofundme pages have been set up to help Leclerc’s family with travel and to create a fund for Johnson’s son.
