Missing climbers on Mt. Rainer believed to be dead

SEATTLE (KGO) -- Six climbers missing on Mount Rainier in Washington state are believed to be dead.

Officials say that searchers detected pings on Saturday from the climbers' emergency beacon 3,000 feet below where the group was last heard from.

Authorities don't believe the climbers would have survived a plunge that steep.

A spokesperson for the park says it's highly unlikely that the bodies will ever be retrieved because of the tough terrain.