|
TODAY'S STATS |
Denali |
Mt. Foraker |
|
Registered Climbers |
1,027 |
7 |
|
Climbers Currently On Mountain |
547 |
1 |
|
Completed Climbs |
256 |
6 |
|
Number of Summits |
100 |
0 |
|
Summit Percentage |
39% |
0% |
|
The Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station also maintains a daily automated statistics phone line, so if this blog is lagging behind and you need up-to-date registration numbers, call (907) 733-9127. |
Mountain Weather
Click here for today's National Weather Service Denali Climbing Forecast.
And here for the Kahiltna webcam: https://avcams.faa.gov/
7,200 camp: A few high cirrus clouds, wind 4 mph out of the east, with gusts to 13 mph. No snow in the past five days.
In the last 12 hours:
Current temp (8 am): -2 C (28 F)
High temp: -1 C (30 F)
Low temp: -4 C (25 F)
14,200 camp: A few high cirrus clouds, wind 8 mph out of the northeast, gusts to 9 mph.
In the last 12 hours:
Current temp (8 am): -18 C (0 F)
High temp: -17 C (1 F)
Low temp: -22 C (-7 F)
Ranger Update
NPS Denali (14K) Patrol #2: (Rgr McBrayer, VIP Desmond, VIP Martin, VIP Ramos-Leon, VIP Weinberg) Oops, Friday blog post indicated the patrol was flying out Saturday, but it was actually Sunday the team flew out. The were involved in one last SAR while at 14,200 feet (see below) before they descended to basecamp on Saturday. NPS Denali (14K) Patrol #3: (Rgr Erickson, VIP Bracher, VIP Mock, VIP Weaver) Chris and crew remain camped at 17,200 feet. They were turned back from the summit on an attempt yesterday morning due to high wind, but are likely heading up again today, along with an estimated 100 other climbers. Tucker (at 14K) estimates today is likely the biggest summit push of the season, with an additional 50 individuals moving up to high camp today.
NPS Denali (14K) Patrol #4: (Rgr Chenoweth, Rgr Beren, NPS Loso, NPS Sykes, VIP Kreiger) The 14 camp weather station is now in place. The team assisted with the late night SAR on Friday, and has been staying busy with normal camp operations and assisting climbers headed up and headed down this peak week of the season. They will head downhill tonight provided Dave Weber and crew reach 14K this afternoon.
NPS Denali (14K) Patrol #5: (Rgr Weber, VIP Treat, VIP Malone, VIP Scheele, VIP Byers, PJ Kirby) Their anticipated arrival date at 14K is today, following a rather uneventful and smooth trip up.
NPS Basecamp (7K) Patrols #4: (Rgr Westman, VIP Weaver) The patrol transition occurred as planned on Saturday.
Search and Rescue Activity
At 10:30 pm on June 1, NPS rangers at 14K received a radio report of an ataxic climber on the summit ridge. The reporting party (an independent team of 3) shared some altitude medications with the sick climber, whose teammates helped him descend to Zebra Rocks at approximate 19,100 feet. Meanwhile, the park's high altitude helicopter landed at 14k camp shortly after midnight, picked up a ranger, then ascended to the patient's location on a reconnaissance flight. They returned to 14,200 feet and configured the ship for short-haul with the rescue basket. Pilot Andreas Hermansky then successfully retrieved the patient at 00:45 am and short-hauled him back to 14k where he was loaded internally for a flight back to Talkeetna. VIP Dr. Nick Weinberg accompanied the patient as medical attendant. The patient was transported by ground ambulance to the Mat-Su Regional Hospital.
Route Conditions
"The most beautiful West Buttress trail I've ever seen in my life." ~Denali Ranger Joey McBrayer, following a descent from 17K to 7K over the past two days.
Starting about yesterday, climbers have moved to night travel schedules due to soft glacier conditions brought on by 5 or 6 days of direct sun and mild temperatures.
Photo of the Day
The view from High Camp (17,200 feet) looking out at the rocky 16,200-foot ridge. If you look hard enough, you can see the ants marching uphill. (NPS Photo/Joseph McBrayer)