Marc-André Leclerc, a 25-year-old Canadian alpinist, and his climbing partner Ryan Johnson, 34, vanished after a March 2018 climb on the north face of the Mendenhall Towers about twelve miles from Juneau, Alaska. Leclerc was last heard from on March 5, 2018, when he posted a summit photo; the pair were expected back by March 7 and never arrived. A significant snowstorm moved into the area the day they were due to return.

Searchers faced relentless poor weather and high avalanche danger. On March 13 crews spotted an intact anchor rope at the top of an ice chute on the Fourth Tower and two climbing ropes matching the men’s gear inside a crevasse midway down. Authorities concluded the climbers were deceased and believe they fell into the crevasse after falling rock, an avalanche, or a collapsing cornice. Hazardous conditions prevented recovery of their bodies, and subsequent searches did not locate remains.

The loss ended two notable alpinists’ lives and stands as a stark reminder of the risks of high-altitude climbing. Did anyone in the Juneau or climbing communities see them or hear from them during that trip?