Climbing Victim Identified As Past NPS Employee

The park has released the name of the climber who died on Mt. Wake on Monday, April 23rd. Lara-Karena Kellogg, 38, of Seattle, Washington, died from injuries sustained in a 1,000-foot fall that occurred while rappelling the technical Northeast Ridge. Her climbing partner did not directly witness the fall, and it remains unknown exactly what caused the rappelling accident. Lara – then Lara Bitenieks – was a former seasonal climbing ranger and member of the search and rescue team at Mount Rainier NP. A current US Forest Service employee living in the Seattle area, she would often help with SAR missions at Mount Rainier during the fall, winter and spring. She and her husband, Chad Kellogg, another former climbing ranger, last assisted the park in the search for two RMI guides in the winter of 2005. Mike Gauthier, the park’s search and rescue coordinator, writes this about Lara: “She was an exceptional climber, snowboarder, surfer and world traveler. When choosing adventures, Lara always sought remote locations off the beaten path. She did not seek the spotlight, but was easily recognized as a leader amongst her friends.  Her independent spirit touched many people, including people at Mount Rainier.”