Anton Tselykh, 38, despite sustaining serious injuries including internal bleeding and head trauma, trekked through the night to his car before driving to a pay phone to summon help, authorities disclosed on Tuesday.

The tragic accident occurred Saturday evening as the climbers were descending a precipitous gully on the Early Winters Spires, a popular, rugged destination about 160 miles northeast of Seattle. The group was comprised of Vishnu Irigireddy, 48, Tim Nguyen, 63, both from Renton, and Oleksander Martynenko, 36, from Bellevue. Sadly, all three men succumbed to their injuries, said Okanogan County Coroner Dave Rodriguez.

Undersheriff Dave Yarnell stated that Tselykh managed to extricate himself from a tangle of ropes, helmets, and other gear left at the scene of the fall. Over a grueling period of at least twelve hours, he found his way to a pay phone to call for assistance. He is currently listed in satisfactory condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The surviving climber's ordeal began when the anchor point, a metal spike known as a piton, apparently failed and plummeted the group approximately 200 feet down a slanted gulch, followed by an additional 200-foot tumble. The team had been descending after spotting an approaching storm, explained Rodriguez. Tselykh’s survival and subsequent trek to get help is considered remarkable, especially given his injuries.

A search and rescue team located the fall site on Sunday, aided by coordinates from a device the climbers carried. The treacherous terrain and inclement weather necessitated the bodies' evacuation by helicopter, which took nearly an hour to navigate the rugged, 16-mile stretch.

Investigators found the piton still attached to the climbers' ropes, indicating it had likely dislodged. Pitons, often left behind by previous climbers, can lose their reliability over time if not properly maintained. Cristina Woodworth, head of the sheriff's search and rescue team, emphasized that climbers should not rely solely on aging equipment and must stay constantly aware of their environment.

Joshua Cole, a veteran guide from North Cascades Mountain Guides, noted that it is generally uncommon for climbers to rappel off a single piton due to the risks involved. The route undertaken by the climbers is known for its demanding nature, requiring navigation over ice, snow, and rock, and conditions can shift rapidly with the weather.

The community is still piecing together the exact circumstances of the accident. "We hope to get more details from the surviving party in time," Woodworth said.