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,

A fourth climber was seriously injured in what the authorities called a hiking accident in the mountain range.

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