Video: Practice Climb Turns Deadly

Aaron Koester, 21, of Monroe, died in an avalanche Sunday, though his companion, Matt Little, 23, of Monroe, survived after being buried up to his neck. Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman Patti Wold said the two were on Ingraham Glacier, 11,000 feet up the 14,411-foot mountain, practicing for an ascent of Mount McKinley in Alaska.

Aaron Koester, Died on Mount Rainier 10-25-04 Aaron Koester Aaron Koester

Koester was a volunteer firefighter in Monroe, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

Wold said the pair had walked down a snow ramp into a crevasse near Disappointment Cleaver. They were walking out on another ramp when it collapsed at about 1 p.m.

Both were buried. Little, whose head and one arm remained above the snow, was able to dig himself out. He then dug out his friend, but it was too late.

Little descended to Camp Muir and used a radio to call for help. He was able to contact a hunter near Naches who called park rangers.

Little remained at the park in good condition Monday.

Three rangers flew to the scene by helicopter Monday and retrieved Koester's body.

Koester was the fifth climber killed on Mount Rainier this year.