ADN, 10/30/81

A Seward man fell to his death Tuesday on his way down from the 5,200-foot summit of Mount Elias. Alaska State Troopers said Richard M. Wise, 28, was descending the slope by sliding down snow patches when he struck his head on some rocks, lost consciousness and slid over a 60- to 80-foot drop. He landed on more rocks, troopers said, and slid down another snow patch before coming to a halt. His body was recovered Tuesday afternoon. Wise had climbed the peak, located about six miles from Seward above Fourth of July Creek, the preceding afternoon with Adam Gardner, 21, of Seward. They reached the summit too late to come down before dark and spent Monday night in the snow on the mountain before beginning their descent Tuesday.