Denali National Park officials have confirmed the death of a skier identified as Nicholas Vizzini, age 29 from Washington State, following a human-triggered soft slab avalanche on Mt. McKinley’s West Buttress Route.
Two mountaineering rangers were in the area and responded to the scene within minutes. Vizzini was visually located and the rangers established an airway and CPR was initiated but discontinued after 40 minutes due to traumatic injuries and no pulse.
This is the second death on Mt. McKinley this climbing season and the 130th death on the mountain recorded in the history of the park. Our thoughts are with the Vizzini’s family and friends. Read the full press release from Denali National Park below.
Denali National Park Press Release:
A skier was confirmed dead after being caught in a soft slab avalanche from below the Rescue Gully above Camp 14 on Mt. McKinley West Buttress Route at approximately 6:15 p.m. on June 10, 2025. Nicholas Vizzini, age 29 of Washington State, and his climbing partner, a snowboarder, triggered the avalanche while descending the slope.
Two mountaineering rangers on an acclimatization climb spotted the partner on the surface of the avalanche debris and were able to respond within minutes. After a quick assessment of the partner, a beacon search was initiated and a signal acquired. During the search, Vizzini was visually located and found to be mostly buried in the debris. The rangers immediately began digging to establish an airway. CPR was initiated but discontinued after forty minutes due to traumatic injuries and no pulse.
After recovery, rangers flew the body to Talkeetna, where they transferred it to the state medical examiner. Vizzini’s partner sustained minor injuries and is scheduled to fly off the mountain today.
Rescue Gully starts at 17,200 feet on the West Buttress route. The top of where the avalanche released was approximately 16,600 feet and the avalanche ran down to approximately 15,000 feet.
This is the second death on Mt. McKinley this climbing season. On June 4, 2025, Alex Chiu, aged 41 of Seattle, Washington, died as a result of a 3,000-foot fall from the Mt. McKinley West Buttress climbing route on to the Peters Glacier.
There have been approximately 13 avalanche-related deaths and more than 130 total deaths on the mountain recorded in the history of the park. There are currently 500 climbers on the mountain.
The climbing season typically begins in early May and ends in early July.
It is called Denali. It has always been called Denali. Mckinley never visited Alaska. He was running for president when his campaign manager came up with the idea of naming the mountain after him. Curious if the author of this article is stupid or ignorant.
Denali
Denali