November 10, 2025

The Lone Survivor of Early Winters Spire: Anton Tselykh's Impossible Escape from the Cascades | E194

39 minutes

On Mother's Day weekend 2025, four friends set out to climb North Early Winters Spire in Washington's North Cascades, but a single rusted piton anchor failed during their descent, sending all four climbers plummeting 500 to 700 feet down the mountain. Three men died instantly from the fall, while 38-year-old Anton Tselykh miraculously survived despite suffering a cracked skull, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and head trauma. What followed was one of the most remarkable self-rescues in climbing history—and a mystery that even the U.S. Forest Service investigation couldn't explain: why did one man survive when three others didn't?

00:00 Introduction to Case Knives

00:25 Escape Ads with Patreon

00:59 Welcome to Crux True Survival Stories

01:34 Anton Tselykh's Nightmare Begins

03:15 The North Cascades: A Treacherous Terrain

05:38 Meet the Climbing Team

08:22 The Climb and the Descent

14:11 The Fatal Decision

19:01 The Climbers' Final Descent

20:03 The Fall and Its Immediate Aftermath

22:38 Anton’s Struggle for Survival

25:07 The Rescue and Recovery Efforts

30:00 The Investigation and Findings

33:45 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

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References

U.S. Forest Service Climbing Accident Report - North Early Winters Spire, Early Winters Couloir

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kxly.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/44/844567ae-de1f-463b-9ba0-3c157259fb33/6848c7bac1406.pdf.pdf

Okanogan County Sheriff's Office - Official Statements

Methow Valley News - "Surviving climber shares harrowing account of fall"

https://methowvalleynews.com/2025/05/22/surviving-climber-shares-harrowing-account-of-fall/

Spokesman-Review - "Report offers details on North Cascades climbing accident"

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jun/10/report-offers-details-on-north-cascades-climbing-a/

CBS News - "Climber who survived fall that killed 3 friends was unconscious for hours, awoke in dark before seeking help"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/surviving-climber-fall-killed-3-unconscious-awoke-dark-calling-help/

CBS News - "Dramatic details emerge after climber survives 400-foot fall that killed 3 friends in Washington state"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/triple-fatal-climbing-fall-washington-state-survivor-details/

Seattle Times/Spokesman-Review - "What we know about the North Cascades climbing accident that killed three"

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/may/14/what-we-know-about-the-north-cascades-climbing-acc/

KOMO News - "Seattle climber recounts survival after 400-foot fall in North Cascades accident"

https://komonews.com/news/local/400-foot-fall-north-cascades-deadly-incident-accident-okanogan-couny-satisfactory-condition-cristine-woodworth-tragedy-anchor-piton-failure-washington-state-40-miles-april-22

NCW Life - "Report: Piton failure sent mountaineers to their deaths"

https://www.ncwlife.com/news/report-piton-failure-sent-mountaineers-to-their-deaths/article_2c279af4-37d7-41bd-8fce-36d90492bd23.html

Your Source One - "Report: Missteps Caused Fatal Climb Fall in Okanogan County"

https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/report-series-of-missteps-led-to-deadly-north-cascades-climbing-fall-in-okanogan-county/article_f14ed12f-3b01-4a04-89b6-16a68de5529a.html

KXLY News - "Report details what went wrong in accident that killed three climbers in the Washington Cascades"

Fluke Corporation - Official Statement on Vishnu Irigireddy

Facebook/GoFundMe - Olga Martynenko's Statements

Okanogan County Search and Rescue (OCSAR)

Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team

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By Kaycee McIntosh, Julie Henningsen, Bleav

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