would survive. reporter: on monday, four climbers and two experienced guides with alpine ascents international took off for a five-day climb of liberty ridge. it is one of the most dangerous areas in the park. reporter: it s covered in snow, ice and jagged rocks. the steepness is up to 50 degrees. alpine ascent s website says climbers have to carry 50-plus pounds of equipment, climbing for up to eight hours a day. on wednesday evening, the guides checked in by satellite phones saying they were okay, but weather was coming in. the group expected back friday was never heard from again. employees at alpine ascents are reeling from the loss. we re all devastated. i mean, watching, you know, climbers take a fall, get injured, get killed. i mean, it s always a reminder of, you know, how difficult the sport can be. reporter: up until today, helicopter crews were getting beacon signals from the climbers. this was a jblm crew training earlier this week for just this kind of emergency.