Pictured: New York trans woman, Robbi Mecus, 52, falls to death while ice ... trends now
A New York trans woman fell 1,000ft to her death while ice climbing on an Alaskan mountain.
Robbi Mecus, 52, of Keene Valley, died after she and her climbing partner fell while they ascended Mount Johnson, an 8,400ft peak, in Denali National Park on Thursday night.
The other climber, Melissa Orzechowski, 30, from California, survived the fall but suffered 'serious traumatic injuries,' according to the National Park Service.
Around 10.45pm, other climbers who witnessed the tragic incident called for help, but a rescue helicopter pilot and mountaineering rangers couldn't save the surviving climber until 7am Friday.
Later that morning, a park helicopter and two rangers went back to the scene to recover Mecus's body, but had to turn back because of 'deteriorating weather.'
Robbi Mecus, 52, of Keene Valley, died after her and her climbing partner fell while they climbed Mount Johnson, an 8,400ft peek, in Denali National Park on Thursday night
Mecus, a New York forest ranger, was recovered on Saturday morning from the bottom of the mountain known as 'the Escalator' after the pair fell 1,000ft
Mecus, a New York forest ranger, was recovered on Saturday morning from the bottom of the mountain known as 'the Escalator' after the pair fell about 1,000ft.
'I join the Department of Environmental Conservation family in mourning the sudden and tragic passing of Forest Ranger Robbi Mecus,' interim DEC Commissioner Sean Mahar said in a statement.
The other climber, Melissa Orzechowski (left) survived the treacherous fall and sustained 'serious traumatic injuries'
According to the agency, Mecus was a forest ranger for the Department of Environmental Conservation's Adirondack region for 25 years after she joined in 1999 at the age of 27.
Maher said Mecus not only 'exemplified the Forest Rangers' high standard of professional excellence,' but praised her work in 'advancing diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQ belonging throughout the agency.'
'Over her 25-year career with DEC, Ranger Mecus demonstrated an unparalleled passion for protecting the environment and New Yorkers,' Maher added.
According to NCPR, Mecus took part in 'hundreds of search and rescues over her career,' and recently helped find a frostbitten and hypothermic hiker in High Peaks in March.
Mecus was seen in a video from March 2023, explaining another rescue that she assisted in after she helped a 60-year-old woman with a leg injury on Wright Peak in New York.
'Part of our job is to remember that
