Tragic strike; young ice climber found dead on the mountain

A tragic incident occurred in Utah’s Indian Canyon, where a 40-year-old ice climber, Meg O’Neill, lost her life while saving her friend from a falling ice column. The accident happened on April 2, while O’Neill was accompanying two friends on a climb up Raven Falls (WI4), a two-pitch route ¹.

According to eyewitnesses, O’Neill pushed her friend, Anne Nikolov, out of the way just before the ice column fell, saving her life. Unfortunately, O’Neill herself was buried under the ice and didn’t survive ¹.

The climbing community is mourning the loss of O’Neill, who was an experienced and passionate climber. She was also a dedicated outdoor educator and worked with organizations that empowered refugee women through outdoor activities ¹.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, but it’s clear that O’Neill’s heroic actions saved a life that day. Her legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched through her climbing and educational endeavors ¹.