Bad weather is hampering efforts to recover the body of a climber in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Chelan County Sheriff's department chief of operations John Wisemore identified the victim as 19 year old Matthew Trinkle of Ellensburg. Wisemore says the climber is believed to be the victim of a significant fall from near the summit of Dragontail Peak. Search and rescue teams on the ground with the help of two helicopters failed in an attempt to remove the body which is located just off a steep slope and in a rock gulley below the summit of Dragontail Peak.

Wisemore says it could be a while before crews can access the area.  

   
Authorities were notified of the overdue climber late Sunday evening. Trinkle's roommate in Ellensburg reported that he had planned to return from his climb Saturday night. A group of climbers who had ascended the peak Sunday morning discovered a body believed to be Trinkle. They reported the discovery to a deputy who had located Trinkle's abandoned vehicle at the Mount Stuart trailhead.