This is a list of fatalities from mountaineering in Washington (state). It does not include deaths that occurred on a maintained hiking trail or non-alpine climbing areas. Deaths have occurred due to avalanches, rockfall, BASE jumping, failure of rappel anchors, and falls on steep terrain or into glacial crevasses.

As of 2026, Washington has more climbing accidents than any other state according to statistics kept by the American Alpine Club, with 2,134 accidents (including 378 fatalities) recorded since 1951.

Central Cascades I-90

There were deadly falls from the Haystack (summit bloc) of Mount Si in June 1913,Seattle Times June 30 1913 October 1972,Snoqualmie North Bend Valley Record 19 October 1972 February 1981,Seattle Times February 12 1981 and February 8 1983 August 1982,The Columbian 24 August 1982 August 2008, and May 2026. Although the mountain rarely receives enough snow for avalanches to occur, a climber died in a deep slab avalanche in February 1985. He experienced severe head trauma after hitting a tree and died after his partner left him to get assistance.

Nearby McClellan Butte has seen fatal falls, in 1972 and 1998 in a snow-covered gully that crosses the trail, and in 2005 near the rocky summit.

There have been several deaths on Granite Mountain in snowy conditions: In April 1958, a teenager died after falling a long distance on a snow slope. In March 1962, two climbers died in a slab avalanche. In April 1984, a solo climber died in an avalanche. In April 2013, one man in a party of snowshoers was killed in a massive avalanche that ran around . In March 2014, a backcountry skier died in an avalanche. On New Year's Eve 2015, a snowshoer went missing on the mountain—his body was recovered in avalanche debris a day later.

In 2011, a student fell and died on Kaleetan Peak.https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/uw-student-falls-to-his-death-at-kaleetan-peak/281-331754262

There have been multiple deaths on Lundin Peak, which have led to memorials being installed on the route: In September 1952, a climber died after his rope broke during a rappel. In October 1980, a climber fell while descending unroped from the peak. In May 1982, a climber fell to his death in another unroped fall. In September 1998, a climber died after a large rock broke loose. Right before the fall, he had remarked that the rock quality was "crap". Nearby the Tooth has also had multiple climbing fatalities: In September 1957, a climber died after falling off a cliff in the dark a few miles from the Denny Creek Trailhead after summiting earlier that day. In 1977, a climber died after his protection ripped out in a fall. In August 2023, a climber fell while attempting to down climb the north ridge after successfully free soloing the more difficult south face.

Across the valley, Chair Peak has had multiple fatalities: In February 1953 a backcountry skier was killed in an avalanche near Source Lake. In June 1984 a climber died on the Northeast Buttress climbing route after being struck by rockfall from a party above. In October 1993 a climber fell and died after dislodging a large rock. In September 2001, a climber fell down a 45 degree rock slope and died. In October 2008, there was a fatality from a fall. In October 2018 a climber fell and died. His body was recovered by King County Search and Rescue.

Guye Peak has seen multiple deaths: In September 1961, two climbers fell and died while ascending the west face of the mountain. In March 1972, a college climbing leader slipped on snow and fell off a cliff. In 2002, a climber was off route and fell off a cliff. In September 2008, mathematician Oded Schramm died in a fall near the summit.

There have been multiple fatalities on Mount Thomson: In September 1960, a climber dislodged a rock that hit another climber below him, causing him to fall. Although he survived the fall, he died shortly afterwards and before rescuers arrived. In September 1989, a climber fell from just below the east ridge, dying instantly. In September 1996, a climber died after his rappel anchor failed.

Mount Garfield, on the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River, has seen multiple fatal incidents: In May 1972, two climbers fell down the south gully. They might have been caught in an avalanche.Off Belay February 1973 edition In September 2014, a man fell and died from rappelling off the end of his rope on the descent from the "Infinite Bliss" climbing route..

In August 2019, Ann Nelson died in a fall on Iron Cap Mountain.

Highway 2

Mount Index has also seen multiple fatalities: In October 1947, two climbers went missing while climbing Mount Index and were presumed dead. In June 1972, a climber died while rappelling down a waterfall, possibly of hypothermia or drowning. In July 1980, a climber fell the full length of his climbing rope (around ) to his death on the north face of Mount Index. In February 1984, the bodies of two climbers who were trying to climb the couloir between Index's main and middle peak were located in a gully. The cause of their death was not known.

Mount Baring has seen several fatalities: In July 1953 a climber (who was a partner of Fred Beckey) fell off a cliff and died. In July 2004, a man died in a BASE jumping accident. In September 2020, a man died in a BASE jumping accident. In August 2025, a man died in a BASE jumping accident.

Stuart Range There have been several deaths on Colchuck Peak: In June 1992, two experienced climbers fell to their deaths while rock climbing on the Northeast Buttress. In November 2015, a climber went missing on Colchuck Peak; his body was found several months later. In March 2023, three climbers were killed in an avalanche on the northeast couloir, a steep snow climbing route.

In 1969 a climber fell off of Icicle Ridge above Ida Creek and tumbled to his death.

Numerous climbers have died near Dragontail Peak over the years: In January 1974, Don Heller died while descending from Asgard Pass. In January 1991, Hope Barns and Kathy Phibbs died from a fall on the Triple Couloirs ice climbing route. In 2007, Otto Vaclavek and his son Max were found dead near Dragontail Peak. In 2008, Andrea Basque died in a climbing accident. In June 2011, a climber died in after glissading into a waterfall hole below Aasgard Pass. In June 2016 another person died in a similar glissading incident. In June 2019 a teenager died after glissading into a waterfall hole below Aasgard Pass. In May 2021, Daniel J. Meer fell and died while climbing on the peak. In March 2022, Richard Thurmer was killed in a fall while attempting to solo climb the Triple Couloirs route. In September 2025, Andrew Wong fell and died near the summit of the mountain.

Several people have died while climbing Mount Stuart: In June 1972, a climber fell into a moat and his companions were unable to extricate him, so he died of exposure. In October 1972, a climber died in a sizable rockfall in the gully above the Ice Cliff Glacier. In 1996, a climber died while attempting to glissade the Cascadian couloir on the south side of the peak. In June 2018, a man died near the false summit while attempting to descend the Cascadian couloir route.

In July 1979, a man died after a lead fall on Ingalls Peak. He initially survived with multiple broken bones but died in the almost two-day period it took rescuers to reach him and his climbing partner.

South Cascades

Multiple climbers have been killed from crevasse falls, avalanches, and cornice collapses on Mount Saint Helens: In September 1953, a boy died after an unroped crevasse fall on the Toutle glacier. In April 1975, five university students died in a large avalanche. In 1976, two climbers were found dead in a crevasse. In February 2010, a climber died after falling into the crater during a cornice collapse. In March 2024, a splitboarder died following a cornice collapse in which he was carried into the crater.

Multiple people have been killed on Mount Adams: In September 1967, a Mazamas climbing leader died of pulmonary edema while climbing the mountain. In February 1974, two climbers fell off a cliff near the top of the Lyman Glacier. Both subsequently died. In September 1980, a solo climber fell and died. In November 1980, two climbers went missing in a winter storm. Their bodies were recovered in 2001. In August 1990, a climber slipped on snow and slid before falling into a crevasse on the Mazama Glacier. In May 2018, a climber fell near the main south ridge climbing route.

In May 1958, a climber took a lead fall on Chimney Rocks. His rope was severed.in the fall and he died around 30 minutes after impact.

In September 1968 a woman died during an unexpected storm on Old Snowy Mountain. Rainier Mount Rainier is the second deadliest mountain in the United States (after Denali) and accounts for an estimated 7 percent of nationwide mountaineering deaths. Most victims died of a fall, exposure, or avalanche.

The most popular route, accounting for around 75 percent of climbers, on the mountain is the Disappointment Cleaver. Hazards on this route include rockfall, icefall, and traffic jams. An early season variation is the Ingraham Glacier direct. In September 1957, a climber died because of a collapsed snow bridge above the cleaver; he broke his neck in the fall. In August 1971, a climber died of skull fracture after being pulled into a crevasse. In September 1977, a climber died of injuries in a fall. In September 1978, two climbers died of hypothermia after a fall during the descent. In March 1979, Willi Unsoeld and another climber died after an avalanche near Cadaver Gap. In June 1981, eleven climbers died in a serac fall on the Ingraham Glacier, which is the largest mountaineering mass casualty incident in the United States. In September 1983, two climbers died in a fall off of the cleaver. In May 1991, a climber took a fall into a crevasse around and died of exposure. In September 1991, two climbers died in separate fall incidents. In June 1998, a climber died of exposure following an avalanche on the cleaver that took out two rope teams. In August 2001, a climber died of a suspected heart attack. In June 2002, two climbers were found dead on the Ingraham Direct route around . In September 2002, a climber was killed by rockfall. In October 2004, a climber was buried and died in an avalanche while exploring a crevasse on the Ingraham Glacier. In June 2010, eleven climbers were caught in an avalanche and one went missing, presumed dead. In August 2022, a climber fell and died on the Disappointment Cleaver. In May 2023, a climber with a guided group died near the summit. In June 2023, an elderly climber was found dead on the Ingraham Direct route. In July 2026, a climber was hit by a fatal rockfall on the cleaver.

Another popular route on the mountain is the Emmons Glacier: In January 1936, a solo climber was found dead after summiting. In May 1983 a man died in a crevasse fall. In June 1987, a climber died in an crevasse fall after a snow bridge broke. In June 1992, a climber died in a crevasse fall on the Emmons after summiting via Liberty Ridge. In August 1995, two NPS staff were killed while attempting to rescue a climber with a broken ankle. In July 2010, a climber died after falling into a crevasse. In June 2012, a climbing ranger died in a fall while attempting to rescue a climber. In July 2017, a skier fell to his death in a crevasse around .

Although it accounts for comparatively few climbers, the Liberty Ridge is responsible for a quarter of fatalities: In June 1968, a climber died around due to high altitude pulmonary edema. In May 1981, two climbers died in a fall around . In July 1981, a climber died of unknown causes after being separated from his partner. In October 1984, a climber died on the route. In June 1987, two climbers were found dead in their tent, around elevation. It was suspected they might have died of suffocation after a snowstorm dropped multiple feet of snow on their tent.