MAPLE GROVE — A Minnesota native who apparently died while climbing Mount Rainier had a passion for climbing and the outdoors, the man’s father said.

Searchers on Saturday recovered a body believed to be that of 25-year-old Kyle Bufis, formerly of Maple Grove. A helicopter had spotted the body of a deceased male climber near the summit.

Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman Patti Wold confirmed Sunday that body is off the mountain. The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s office did not release the man’s identity Sunday morning, saying it was working on notifying next of kin.

Bufis, who lived in Springdale, Utah, was part of a three-climber team when he went missing during extreme weather near Liberty Saddle on Thursday night. The three got caught in high winds and whiteout conditions as they descended on the challenging Liberty Ridge route on the north flank of Mount Rainier, said Bufis’ father, Jeff Bufis of Maple Grove.