Skier dies in 100-foot plunge into a crevasse on an Alaska glacier, officials say

An avid outdoorsman died Monday in a 100-foot plunge into a crevasse in a glacier at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, rescuers say.

A ranger lowered into the crevasse confirmed that Mason Stansfield, 28, of Ouray, Colorado, died in the 3:30 p.m. fall near Eldridge Glacier, the National Park Service reported.

Stansfield’s partner called rangers for help after he plunged out of sight into the crevasse, rangers said. A helicopter responded to the glacier at an elevation of 8,000 feet.

Mountain Trip, a wilderness tour guide company that employed Stansfield, wrote about his death on Facebook.

“Mason was one of the most genuine guys we’ve had the pleasure of spending time with, both in the San Juans and Alaska,” the post reads. “We’re heartbroken, to say the least.”

Stansfield was on a personal ski mountaineering trip at the time of his death, the post says.

“But ‘doing what he loved’ ultimately provides no solace or consolation,” Mountain Trip wrote. “He is gone far too soon.”

In a personal message to Stansfield, the organization wrote, “Climb on and keep smiling that mischievous smile we’ll all miss so much.”

This story was originally published May 5, 2021 at 1:24 PM with the headline "Skier dies in 100-foot plunge into a crevasse on an Alaska glacier, officials say."