They turned back short of the summit because of safety concerns, but their timing was unlucky. Dahlmeier was rappelling when a big rock fatally struck her.

Ms. Dahlmeier, 31, an experienced mountaineer, was climbing in Pakistan when she was hit by falling rocks, officials said.

Rescuers had hoped to find double Olympic gold medallist on 6,096m (20,000-foot) Laila Peak in the Karakoram Mountains.