|
TODAY'S STATS |
Mt. McKinley |
Mt. Foraker |
|
Registered Climbers |
929 |
11 |
|
Climbers Currently On Mountain |
358 |
3 |
|
Completed Climbs |
26 |
4 |
|
Number of Summits |
1 |
4 |
|
Summit Percentage |
3% |
100% |
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.
Weather Report
14,200 feet - Everyone at 14,200-camp is hunkered down today due to high winds. At 8 am, winds at 14,200-feet were recorded at 13 mph from the east, gusting to 47 mph from the SE. Overhead at 17,000 feet, "sounds like a freight train is passing through". Skies are overcast, but they can see a lenticular over the summit of Denali. There was a trace of new snow yesterday, but no new precipitation overnight.
In the last 12 hours,
Current temp: 14 F (-10 C)
Low temp: 16 F (-9 C)
High temp: 12 F (-11 C)
7,200 feet - Lisa estimates the cloud ceiling at 14,000 feet. The morning wind speed at 7,200 feet was 2 mph from the north, with easterly gusts up to 11 mph. No snow in the past 24 hours. Temperatures continue to warm up.
In the last 12 hours at 7,200-feet:
Current temp: 32 (0 C)
Low temp: 27 F (-3 C)
High temp: 36 F (2 C)
National Weather Service forecast
Ranger Update
NPS Denali Patrol #1 (Erickson, Westman, 2 PJ's, 4 VIPs) Rangers report a constant roar of blowing wind, with all teams expected to remain in camp today. Yesterday, half the patrol went down to Windy Corner to work on improving the trail (see Route Conditions report below), and the other half attempted to make a carry to high camp, but were turned around by wind for the third time. The fixed lines were busy yesterday with teams making a carry to 16,200-feet, but high winds on the ridge kept the majority of groups from going any higher. The recovery mission for deceased climber Javier Callupan remains on hold until both ground and helicopter crews can safely work at 17,200-feet.
NPS Denali Patrol #2 (Shain + 3 VIPs) is at 14,200-foot camp. An estimated 100 or so climbers are currently staged at 14,200-feet, waiting for a good weather window to go higher.
NPS Denali Patrol #3 (Weber, 2 PJ's, 2 VIPs) camped at 7,800 feet last night, and will remain there tonight.
NPS Basecamp Patrol #2 (Reichert + 2 VIPs) is settled in at 7,200-feet.
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A heads-up from front desk staff: This season, the park is strongly encouraging climbers to remove all human waste from the basecamp airstrips throughout the Alaska Range, i.e. the Kahiltna, Ruth, Eldridge, and Little Switzerland. While historically, climbers have crevassed a portion of this waste, all of it should fly out this season in CMCs.When you check in please be ready for an increased number of CMCs for your group to accommodate this removal policy.
Climbers are reminded to put their used CMCs in a plastic or biodegradable bag for the flight out of the Range. (#keeptheairplanesclean -- just kidding!)
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Route Conditions
> Rangers did some trail re-routing work at Windy Corner yesterday. Climbers are advised to follow the wanded lower trail. This more direct route has fewer crevasses and avoids more of the rockfall zone. Nevertheless, climbers are cautioned there still are many crevasses in the vicinity of Windy Corner this season.
> Reports have come in from independent teams that there are a few pickets in place on the traverse to Denali Pass.
> High winds have scoured areas of the mountain, with more blue ice appearing below Windy Corner and on the Headwall.
> The fixed lines on the Headwall are in good shape;
Photo of the Day
The Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station is lively with climbing orientations this week. For this expedition from Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI), the time has come to put their training and preparations to the test on North America's highest peak. (NPS Photo)