Michiel Mike Adriaan Vanderbeek, 33, was last seen May 24, 1998, on the West Buttress route of Mount McKinley in Denali National Park while descending to assist a fallen climber near the 17,200-foot High Camp. Vanderbeek, a Talkeetna-based climbing guide and National Park Service volunteer, witnessed Canadian climber Daniel Raworth fall toward the Peters Glacier and reported the incident before beginning a descent to render aid. Vanderbeek reportedly fell during that descent and never reappeared.

Search teams located Raworth deceased and recovered Vanderbeek’s pack near Raworth’s body. Ground crews and aircraft searched in extreme weather, finding some of Vanderbeek’s gear, including a crampon and a face mask, but no further trace. The decision to descend unroped in high winds and limited visibility was identified as a major contributing factor. Vanderbeek is presumed to have fallen into a bergschrund or crevasse on the Peters Glacier. If anyone knew Mike or was on Denali that week, any details could help fill gaps in the timeline.