Climbers to try reaching hiker's body on North Cascades cliff

The Whatcom County sheriff's office says climbers are making an attempt to recover the body of a Seattle man who fell to his death while hiking in the North Cascades on Sunday.

Lieutenant Scott Rossmiller says the body is in a difficult position to reach — about 200 feet from the top and 200 feet from the bottom of a cliff.

Teams from Bellingham Mountain Rescue and Skagit Mountain Rescue are looking at their options.

The body of 28-year-old Joseph Crawford was spotted Tuesday from a U.S. Forest Service helicopter about 2 p.m. on the cliff near Baker Lake.

Bad weather prevented rescue crews from launching a helicopter search in the morning, but the Forest Service helicopter was able to take off later Tuesday.

Will Reichardt, a deputy chief with the Skagit County Sheriff's Office, which initiated the search, said Crawford had been camping with friends in the Baker Lake area close to the south side of the mountain.

Crawford and a friend decided to leave their campsite and hike to a nearby lake to fish, Reichardt said. But Crawford slipped off the cliff near the trail. His friend called in the accident just before 6 p.m.

Reichardt said the Forest Service worked with authorities in both counties to coordinate the search.

Crawford's friends have remained in the area.

Brian Alexander: 206-464-2026 or balexander@seattletimes.com

Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com