The body of Anacortes resident Dallas Kloke has been recovered at the 6,600 foot level of Pleiades Peaks area, where he fell while climbing a week ago. The 71-year-old Kloke was an experienced climber and well-known in the sport.
He was climbing with a five-member team when he reached for a rock that sheared away from the mountain. He fell more than 300 feet. Team members dropped down as far as their ropes would allow and they couldn't see him.
After Kloke's body was spotted in photographs, ground crews tried getting to the location but could not recover his body due to dangerous weather conditions. The ground crews had to wait for a couple of days for weather conditions to clear up before they could continue on with the recovery on Thursday.
His family expressed their sincere appreciation at the recovery efforts mounted by Customs and Border Protection agents, as well as rescue crews from Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.