Thursday, March 28, 2024

Seattle climber dies while hiking on Mount Stuart

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A 32-year old climber from Seattle was killed due to a fall at Mount Stuart near Leavenworth. Varun Sadavarte fell several hundred feet while descending Mount Stuart just before noon on Sunday, June 24.
Sadavarte was pronounced dead at the scene. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 11:47 a.m. reporting the fall. The location of the incident was determined to be on the southwest aspect of Mount Stuart, just below the false summit, which is east of the true summit, according to a Chelan County Sheriff’s Office news release.
Since the fall occurred at the 8,900 foot mark on the mountain, it was decided to call in a hoist capable helicopter through State Emergency Management. A Navy Blackhawk helicopter from Whidbey Island responded.
The helicopter was on the scene by 2:40 p.m. to confirm the climber was deceased. The body was hoisted from the mountain and transferred to the fish hatchery in Leavenworth. The Navy crew then returned to Mount Stuart to retrieve the climbing partner who was not comfortable descending after witnessing the accident.
The climbing partner said Sadavarte successfully reached the summit of Mount Stuart that morning. He descended to the false summit before noon. Just before they started to climb down toward the Cascadian Couloir, Sadavarte lost his footing and slid several hundred feet down a steep slope landing in rocks.
Other climbers were able to get down to Sadavarte to report he was unresponsive. Chelan County Cororner Wayne Harris said the death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head and chest. The death has been ruled an accident.
Harris said he has met with Sadavarte’s brother on several occasions, and has tried to assist them transporting the body back to India, where his parents reside.
Editor can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.

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