Robbi Mecus, a well-known climbing enthusiast and forest ranger, tragically died after falling 1,000 feet in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. She was identified on Saturday. Mecus, aged 52 and from Keene Valley, New York, was known for her advocacy in increasing the presence of transgender individuals in alpine climbing. She co-founded the Queer Ice Fest in the Adirondack Mountains in 2022, which had its third annual event earlier this year.
Sean Mahar, the Interim Commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, praised Mecus for her dedication to protecting the environment and her efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion within the agency. Her body was recovered on Saturday after rescue efforts were suspended due to difficult conditions on Mount Johnson.
Her climbing partner, a 30-year-old woman from California, survived with serious injuries and was rescued by rangers before being airlifted to a hospital in Anchorage. The accident occurred during a technical climb on the southeast face of Mt. Johnson, where the pair fell while ascending the “Escalator” route, a 5,000-foot steep climb.
Mecus, known for her extensive climbing experience, had previously been involved in rescues in Upstate New York mountains. In a 2019 interview for the New York City Trans Oral History Project, she discussed her transition from living closeted to being openly transgender while working as a ranger, a position she initially feared losing but found acceptance among her colleagues.
