Transgender Climbing Advocate Dies in Fall on Alaska's Mount Johnson

Robbi Mecus, a 52-year-old transgender climbing advocate and New York forest ranger, died after falling 1,000 feet with her climbing partner on Mount Johnson in Alaska's Denali National Park on April 27, 2024. Mecus and her 30-year-old climbing partner from California were on a steep, technical route on the 8,400-foot mountain's southeast face when the fall occurred, which was witnessed by another climbing party.

Mecus died from the injuries sustained in the fall, while her partner was seriously injured but rescued and hospitalized. A helicopter crew recovered Mecus' body on Saturday, and park officials plan to return to the mountain to retrieve it when weather conditions allow. This was the second recorded death on Mount Johnson, with a previous climber dying in an avalanche in 2000.

Why this matters: Mecus was an outspoken advocate for expanding the presence of transgender people in alpine climbing and co-founded the Queer Ice Fest in the Adirondack Mountains. Her tragic passing highlights the ongoing challenges and risks faced by climbers, as well as the importance of diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation.

Mecus was a seasoned climber who had been credited with rescuing others in Upstate New York mountains. She had a long career with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and was described as exemplifying the Forest Rangers' high standard of professional excellence while advancing diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQ belonging throughout the agency.

"Robbi believed that visibility is important and that people with privilege need to fight for those who don't have that privilege," said a colleague who worked with Mecus. The climbing community has expressed condolences and paid tribute to Mecus' legacy as a skilled climber, passionate advocate, and role model for transgender individuals in the outdoors.

Key Takeaways

• Robbi Mecus, a 52-year-old transgender climbing advocate, died in a 1,000-foot fall in Alaska.
• Mecus and her climbing partner fell on Mount Johnson in Denali National Park on April 27, 2024.
• Mecus died from the injuries, while her partner was seriously injured but rescued and hospitalized.
• Mecus was an outspoken advocate for expanding the presence of transgender people in alpine climbing.
• Mecus' tragic passing highlights the ongoing challenges and risks faced by climbers, as well as the importance of diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation.