Field Report, June 1, 2022

June 01, 2022 Posted by: Maureen Gualtieri
 

TODAY'S STATS - 6/1/22

    Denali    

Mt. Foraker

Registered Climbers

1,107

15

Climbers Currently On Mountain

494

10

Completed Climbs

221

3

Number of Summits

134

0

Summit Percentage

61%

0%

The Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station also maintains an almost daily automated statistics phone line, so if this blog is lagging behind and you need up-to-date registration numbers, call (907) 733-9127.



As of June 1, there are 25 registered backcountry users exploring the Alaska Range:

  • 13 in Upper Kahiltna
  • 4 in the Upper Ruth
  • 6 on Mount Hunter
  • 2 in the Kichatna Spires


Mountain Weather


We're still in the high pressure system that never seems to quit.

Weather station telemetry data from 7K and 14K are transmitted hourly to the MesoWest website, including temperatures, wind speed, wind direction, snowfall, and solar  radiation.  MountainWeather.com compiles a Denali Weather page, complete with links to the MesoWest data, the NWS Denali Climbing Forecasts, as well as links to FAA webcams. 

Click here for the National Weather Service Denali Climbing Forecast

The FAA webcam on the Kahiltna Glacier is fully operational as of this past weekend. Look for the green dot labelled Kahiltna Glacier.


Conditions Reports


Unrelenting sunshine, warm temperatures on the lower glacier, and no new precipitation have taken a toll on the Kahiltna Glacier landing strip.  Air taxi operators are reportedly limiting most flights to the morning hours only when the glacier surface is still frozen.  At least until the weather pattern changes and the glacier sees more snow and cooler temperatures.

Most climbing teams are moving on a night schedule now, at least on the lower glacier, when temperatures are cold and glacier travel is easiest.  


Continued COVID Caution


Denali NP rangers strongly encourage preventative measures to ensure climbers don’t contract the virus before their flight into the Alaska Range. Wearing a mask when indoors; social distancing when possible; and washing hands frequently are precautions are especially important in the two weeks before your expedition start date and during your time in Talkeetna!  Don't let COVID-19 ruin your expedition.  COVID testing is available daily in downtown Talkeetna by the non-profit partner Denali Education Center (click for more info), however testing does not take the place of prevention.  


Search and Rescue 
 

On Tuesday, May 31, helo pilot Christian Kolden made his third trip to high camp this week, this time to evacuate a climber with frostbite of varying degrees to all 10 fingers.  The patient was flown to Talkeetna where his care was transferred to the local Talkeetna ambulance service.


Ranger Reports
 

NPS 14K Patrol #2 (Oken)  The team enjoyed their hike towards the summit on Monday afternoon, but were turned around due to high winds towards the top, as were most teams that afternoon.  After treating and evacuating a frostbite patient at 17K yesterday (Tuesday) morning, the team descended to 14,200 camp.  Tonight, they will descend to 7K for their flight out to Talkeetna on Thursday.

NPS 14K Patrol #3 (Baldwin/Ramos-Leon)  The 14K camp continues to remain surprisingly quiet despite this being the busiest week of the season.  Today they play host both to a departing patrol (Oken's) who is heading down the hill, and to the fresh faced Bomba patrol, who is moving in this afternoon/eveing sometime.

NPS 14K Patrol #5 (Bomba)  As mentioned, Chelsea and her patrol are rounding Windy Corner today, and moving into the 14,200-foot camp. They've reportedly spent considerable time addressing improper sanitation disposal around 11K, and improper garbage/gear disposal around Windy Corner.  While not the most glamorous of patrol duties, keeping the mountain clean is if definitely one of the most important jobs up there -- thank you, #5!

NPS 7K Patrol #3 (Mock)   Steve, Eric, and Leo once again served a pivotal role in the frostbite evacuation on Tuesday, running communications and spending quality time with the patient at 7K. In other duties, Eric and Leo have been assisting NPS glaciologist Mike Loso and his two Geology assistants maintain and transfer data from multiple weather stations in the Alaska Range, including stations at the Kahiltna Basecamp, on the Pika Glacier, and at Kahiltna Pass.  Hopefully we'll have more to report on Mike's 2022 project efforts when his team returns to solid ground on Friday.


South District Ranger Tucker Chenoweth and Denali NP Public Affairs Officer Sharon Stiteler were recent guests on Alaska Public Media’s Outdoor Explorer podcast.  Listen in, Tucker covers everything from the history of climbing Denali, the importance of team dynamics, and a look at mountaineering trends on Denali and Everest.

 

Another Installment of "Meet the TEMSCO Crew"

 

Although the park's high altitude helicopter pilots and mountaineering rangers routinely grab the headlines when it comes to search and rescue daring-do, all will agree that the safety of the aviation program relies heavily on an often unsung hero -- TEMSCO mechanic Nate Smith.  Nate not only keeps the TEMSCO A-Star B3e helicopter in tip-top performance, he is an integral team member who is always willing to jump in and lend a hand.  We asked Nate to share a few words about himself and how he got here...
 

Hi, I’m Nate Smith, I’ve been working for TEMSCO Helicopters since 2010 and have had the opportunity to work with the Denali High Altitude SAR program since 2016.  I worked alongside Andy Hermansky for the first six years I was on this contract and developed a deep appreciation for what was asked of him operationally.  Together we worked out many of the finer details of the helicopters setup.  This past year saw a change in the left seat and I am thankful to have a conscientious and capable team of pilots rotating throughout the season this year.                

I became interested in aviation around the time I was three or four and frightened my mother by often telling her I was going to be a fighter pilot when I grew up.  She had probably seen Top Gun and wanted to save me from being a cocky Maverick.   I ended up going to a collage down in Texas at LeTourneau University, initially for a four year degree in Commercial Aviation until I got the bill for my first flight course, then after a brief count of both of my dollar bills I switched majors to Aeronautical Science with a concentration in Aircraft Systems which was a maintenance focused field.  I managed through careful time management to squeeze a four year degree into four and a half years and came out the other side with an A&P License.                

I was offered the opportunity to start off in the airlines which I did for a short time before moving over into a more interesting and varied field of military contracting.  While working on Elemendorf AFB I was able to make some connections with other fixed wing operators and began to do freelance, part-time and on-call work for various operators and particularly a remote lodge in the Wrangell Mountains which melded my love for aviation and mountaineering into several years of very enjoyable work and enriched my life with some close friendships.  It was here that I caught a breath of hope that my profession didn’t have to resemble an episode of “The Office” but the pursuits that I felt life-giving could blend with the skillset I depended on to earn a living and become something that was constantly new, challenging, unique and meaningful.               

Through the years I have had the privilege to have some incredibly patient and forgiving mentors who have had very significant impact on shaping my life.  I would love to list them but the list would be extensive, suffice to say I would not be in this line of work without the network of relationships that I lean on for support.  I have incredible support from co-workers, equipment manufacturers, field service representatives and the like, but I have one specific mentor who has become to me closer than a brother, answers my calls at any hour of the day or night, and pretty much knows everything there is to know about maintenance and a great deal more, with a friend like that It makes me look like I “have it all together” on my end of things but I’m very dependent on Him and a large number of support people who are behind the scenes helping to make my contribution to the Denali SAR program a success.               

I can’t leave without a word about my wife Annie.  It is a true gift to have a wife who is flexible and resilient to the nearly constant change and unpredictability that life as an Aviation Maintenance Technician has built into it, especially in Alaska and specifically with helicopters.  The rotor wing industry has a rather poor record of relationship lifespan for both pilots and support crew as we all go where the work is and live in oftentimes austere environments where old-fashioned things like faithfulness and loyalty are put on trial.  That being said, I have an amazing gift in my beautiful wife Annie.  She is a constant support, tireless encouragement, voice of reason, faithful friend and partner in the adventure of life.  It would be safe to say that I wouldn’t be part of this program without my wife and her complete backing.      ~Nate Smith, TEMSCO
 

Closeup of a couple in a mountain valley
Annie and Nate Smith, TEMSCO helicopter mechanic (Photo courtesy of Nate Smith)

 

Denali Rescue Volunteers



DRV logo 

Learn more about Denali Rescue Volunteers, an organization that helps make Denali National Park and Preserve's mountaineering operations whole! Thank you for all that you do each season, from helping equipping our volunteers, housing them before and after patrols, and supporting our recruitment process! 
 
 

Photo of the Day

 

The sun sets behind a mountain ridge
Sunset at 11:45 pm, Alaska Time.  View from High Camp at 17,200 feet -- look for Washburn's Thumb on the ridge in the lower left.  (NPS Photo/Chrissie Oken)

Last updated: June 1, 2022

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755

Phone:

907 683-9532
A ranger is available 9 am to 4 pm daily (except on major holidays). If you reach the voicemail, please leave a message and we'll call you back as soon as we finish with the previous caller.

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