News Release

Rock Climbing Fatality in Denali National Park

Date: July 3, 2019
Contact: Maureen Gualtieri, [phone]

 Denali National Park and Preserve rangers were notified Tuesday night July 2 that a park visitor was involved in a rock climbing fall near Igloo Canyon. Rangers responded to the accident site and determined that the visitor had died of traumatic injuries.
 
At approximately 10:30 pm Tuesday night, Evan Millsap, age 26, from Fairbanks, Alaska was rock climbing with a friend in a rocky drainage off Igloo Canyon, just east of Tattler Creek near mile 37 of the park road. The anchor system the team set up failed when Millsap rappelled down the rock face, resulting in the 70-foot fall. Millsap’s partner then down-climbed the ridge. After assessing the severity of his partner’s injuries, he sought emergency assistance from the host at Teklanika Campground. Rangers were notified of the accident at 11:20 pm. 
 
Rescue personnel from park headquarters, Toklat, and Friday Creek reached the accident site at approximately 1:15 am. In satellite phone consultation with the park’s medical director, rangers pronounced Millsap deceased on scene. His remains were carried out to the park road by the rescue team, and then transported to the park entrance area.