Alaskan peaks claim four climbers

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ANCHORAGE, May 20 (UPI) -- Four climbers have died in the past week on mountains in Alaska's Denali National Park and Preserve.

The bodies of the climbers, killed in two separate incidents, were airlifted Saturday from the park, the Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday.

Andre Callari, of Salt Lake City, and Brian Postlethwait, of Park City, Utah, died when an avalanche swept them off Mount Barrille. Wednesday's avalanche occurred near the top of the mountain as the pair climbed through a steep stretch of ice and snow, park officials said.

Two climbers from Washington State, Mizuki Takahashi and Brian Massey, were killed Thursday after falling 1,900 feet while descending Mount McKinley, the newspaper said.

Last month, Lara-Karena Kellogg, of Seattle, fell to her death on Mount Wake while climbing with a partner.

The Denali Park climbing season began in March and is about half over. Three climbers died in the park last year while the park's deadliest season came in 1992 when 13 climbers died.