MONTE CRISTO, Wash. - A 39-year-old Duvall woman was killed Sunday morning when she fell in the Cascade Mountains near the old mining town of Monte Cristo.

Officials said a Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest ranger was notified of the death by another hiker who came out of the mountains at about 5 p.m.

The hiker said his female hiking partner slipped while walking across a snow field on Monte Cristo Peak. She tried to use her ice axe to stop herself from falling over the edge, but was unsuccessful.

The surviving hiker had to leave the woman and hike for over six hours to the nearest ranger station to get help. The ranger notified the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office of the accident.

"Mountaineering is a dangerous sport and sometime these things happen," said Sgt. Danny Wikstrom with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department. "Even with the best of folks and the best of training, best of equipment and the best of experience."

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office used a helicopter to help in the recovery of the body.

Deputies would not identify either hiker, only to say they were both from King County and the man was a very experienced climber.