Mt. McKinley’s Rescue Gully, a steep snow-laden corridor on the West Buttress route, revealed its dangerous side on June 10, 2025. At 6:15 p.m., a soft slab avalanche swept through the slope just below Rescue Gully’s 17,200-foot start above Camp 14. Nicholas Vizzini, 29, from Washington State, and his partner—a snowboarder—were descending when they triggered the slide. While the partner was spotted on the debris surface and survived with minor injuries, Vizzini was found mostly buried and tragically succumbed to traumatic injuries despite rescue efforts.

This incident underscores how Rescue Gully, often approached as a pathway carved by snow and ice, remains a fierce force of nature. Its steep walls, beginning around 16,600 feet, funnel loose snow with lethal speed down to about 15,000 feet. Fixed lines and route markings at the base hint at human attempts to tame this mountain, but the avalanche hazard here is never far from sight or mind.

Two mountaineering rangers en route on an acclimatization climb witnessed the accident and initiated a rapid beacon search and excavation. Despite their swift response, the violent power of the avalanche was unforgiving. The rescue and recovery operation ended with Vizzini’s body flown to Talkeetna.

The fatal avalanche marks the second death on Mt. McKinley (Denali) by early June this year, following a 3,000-foot fall of another climber just days earlier. Historically, avalanche-related deaths on the mountain number around 13 within more than 130 total fatalities, emphasizing the persistent risks for the 500 climbers currently attempting this iconic peak.

Planning a safe ascent or descent on Mt. McKinley requires deep respect for weather and snow conditions. Avalanche risk is highest in late spring and early summer when warming temperatures destabilize snowpacks. Avalanche awareness, carrying beacons, probes, and shovels, and climbing with experienced partners and guides remains essential.

Rescue Gully’s steep, icy terrain tests both technical skill and cautious judgment. The mountain commands full attention; it is a presence that pushes climbers to balance ambition with humility. For those drawn to Denali, this tragedy serves as a sober reminder: every step in the high alpine is a negotiation with forces both beautiful and fierce.