Three people fell to their deaths Sunday while rock climbing in Washington state, likely because of an equipment failure, authorities said. A fourth climber in their group survived the ordeal.The climbers were descending a steep gully in the northern section of Early Winter Spire,

Authorities say the apparent cause of the accident was an anchor failure as they were rappelling in a steep gulley in the North Early Winters Spire area.

Authorities said the cause of the fall is believed to be anchor failure while the climbers rappelled a steep gulley.