The body of a Florida man who fell to his death at a popular Mount Rainier National Park roadside attraction was recovered from beneath Christine Falls on Tuesday.
Roger Alan Wagner, 59, was visiting Mount Rainier from Ocala, Fla., about 80 miles northwest of Orlando. He was traveling with his 31-year-old son, John.
Wagner reportedly was taking photos when he fell 40 feet over a cliff into Van Trump Creek. Park spokesman Kevin Bacher said it was immediately evident Wagner died during the fall.
“He was submerged and not responding,” Bacher said.
John Wagner was standing on a bridge above the falls and told park officials he did not see his father fall but heard him cry out. When he turned around his father was gone, Bacher said.
The steep rocky walls on both sides of the creek made reaching Wagner impossible for his son. He called for help and rangers reached the scene quickly, Bacher said.
However, because the fall took place about 7:15 p.m. it was too dark for a safe recovery effort. The recovery required the help of the park’s climbing rangers.
A 30-person recovery team led by ranger Kraig Snure began its mission at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and finished in about three hours, Bacher said. Rescuers from Pierce County Fire District 23, Tacoma Mountain Rescue and the Tacoma Police Department assisted the rangers.
The Christine Falls overlook was closed during the recovery.
Overnight, the swift waters of Van Trump Creek carried Wagner’s body over the 69-foot double drop of Christine Falls, under the park road bridge and over another smaller waterfall. He came to rest about 100 yards from the road, Bacher said.
John Wagner spent Tuesday night at the National Park Inn in Longmire and requested not to speak publicly, Bacher said. Roger Wagner’s wife did not make the trip.
The father and son spent the day at the park hiking on the Skyline Trail at Paradise and decided to stop to view Christine Falls while driving down the mountain.
The falls, located between Longmire and Paradise, is a popular stop for visitors.
A short walk up the Comet Falls Trail takes hikers to a log bridge that crosses above the falls. From the bridge, hikers can see Christine Falls, the park road bridge and the narrow canyon cut by Van Trump Creek.
Many visitors hike the trail only as far as this bridge.
Wagner reportedly was not standing on the bridge when he fell.
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497 craig.hill@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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