Hiker dies while descending Alaska's Denali Pass

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The National Park Service in Alaska says a climber has died on Denali, North America's highest mountain.

An NPS ranger patrol was called to Denali's West Buttress route at 17,500 feet around 1 a.m. Friday, CBS affiliate KTVA reports. Reports indicated a hiker had collapsed due to an unknown illness.  

But high wind and snow are keeping a helicopter from recovering the hiker's body. National Park Service spokeswoman Maureen Gualtieri says conditions could change quickly, but a flight is not likely Friday. 

The climber was stricken early Friday morning. 

Two park service mountaineering volunteers staying at a camp at 17,200 feet responded, but the ill climber was unconscious and could not be revived. 

The name, gender and nationality of the climber were not immediately released because the climber's family had not been notified.