In the vast and unforgiving wilderness of Alaska, the climbing world lost two of its brightest stars in early March 2018. Marc-André Leclerc, a 25-year-old Canadian alpinist, and his climbing partner, 34-year-old Ryan Johnson of Juneau, vanished after pioneering a new route on the north face of the Mendenhall Towers, about twelve miles from Juneau. The two highly experienced climbers were last heard from on March 5, 2018, when Leclerc posted a photo from the summit to his Instagram account, capturing the breathtaking view. They were expected to ski out and return to town by March 7, but they never arrived. Concern grew when they failed to make contact, especially as a significant snowstorm had moved into the area the day they were due to return.
The disappearance of Leclerc and Johnson prompted an immediate search and rescue operation, though efforts were severely hampered by relentless poor weather and the significant risk of avalanches. When conditions finally permitted, helicopters from the Alaska Army National Guard and Juneau Mountain Rescue crews began to scour the treacherous terrain. On March 13, searchers made a heartbreaking discovery. An intact anchor rope was spotted at the top of an ice chute on the Fourth Tower, and crucially, two climbing ropes that matched the description of the gear carried by the men were seen inside a crevasse midway down. This discovery led authorities to conclude that the climbers were deceased.
Based on the evidence found, it is believed that Leclerc and Johnson met with a tragic accident during their descent. It is conjectured that they were struck by falling rock, an avalanche, or a collapsing cornice of snow, which caused them to fall into the crevasse where their ropes were found. Due to the continuing hazardous conditions and significant avalanche danger, recovery of their bodies was deemed not feasible at the time. Subsequent searches for their remains also proved unsuccessful. The case stands as a somber reminder of the inherent risks of alpinism, even for the most skilled and celebrated climbers. The loss of Marc-André Leclerc and Ryan Johnson was a profound blow to the climbing community, ending the journeys of two men who were renowned for their passion and pioneering spirit in the mountains.
Last Seen: Mar 5, 2018
