A body that could be one of four people who are believed to have died in storms in January was found Monday at the 8,000-feet level of Mount Rainier.
According to Mount Rainier National Park officials, rapidly melting snow on the lower reaches of the Muir Snowfield revealed the body of a male approximately half a mile above Pebble Creek. It appeared that the body had been under snow for some time, said officials, who added that the person's identiy will be determined by the Pierce County medical examiner.
A group of mountain climbers descending from Camp Muir spotted the body late in the day Monday. Its discovery was announced Tuesday afternoon.
Park officials said the person may be one of the four climbers lost during the January storms.
No other bodies were found in the area of Monday's discovery, but officials said snow is expected to continue melting for the next month or two, which may uncover evidence of the other missing climbers. All four were from outside of Washington.
Searches for signs of the climbers are conducted during scheduled flights in the park and as crews are in the area, park officials said.
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