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TODAY'S STATS - 5/27/24 |
Denali |
Mt. Foraker |
|
Registered Climbers |
978 |
27 |
|
Climbers Currently On Mountain |
463 |
16 |
|
Completed Climbs |
108 |
9 |
|
Number of Summits |
13 |
0 |
|
Summit Percentage |
12% |
0% |
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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. |
Mountain Weather
Basecamp weather is on an improving trend today. At 7:00 am, all higher peaks were in the clouds, but by noon the clouds were scattered with lots of blue sky. No wind. "Spectacular day" according to VIP Steve Mock.
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.
The National Weather Service publishes their mountain-specific forecast here: Denali Climbing Forecast
Search and Rescue
Two independent climbers sustained severe frostbite injuries to nose and toes during a long summit day over the weekend. The team descended to 14K on Sunday under their own power, where they received medical care from an NPS ranger patrol the past 24 hours. The two are awaiting helo evacuation from 14K.
Ranger Reports
14K Patrol #2 (Davis) Patrol #2 ascended to 17,200 feet on Friday, May 24, with plenty of company on the trail. Alan had estimated between 60 to 80 climbers at high camp on Saturday morning, with more on the way.
14K Patrol #3 (Oken) The highlight of the weekend was providing medical care to two climbers with frostbite. The two are still at 14 camp, with hopes of flying out sometime this afternoon.
14K Patrol #4 (Bomba) Ranger Bomba and her patrol team reached 11,000 foot camp today, where they will remain for several days.
7K Patrol #3 (Mock) Volunteers-in-Parks Steve Mock, Ron Johnson, and Teri Dudzinski flew to the Kahiltna Glacier on Saturday, May 25 to begin a 10-day NPS Basecamp patrol. Teri is a PA from Bozeman, MT on her first Denali volunteer patrol, and she is joined by her partner Ron Johnson, a paramedic and former mountaineering ranger at both Grand Teton NP and Denali NP, and VIP Extraordinaire Steve Mock in the captain’s chair.
VIPs Teri Dudzinski and Ron Johnson practice building snow anchors on a sunny day at Basecamp. (NPS Photo/Mock)
Denali Rescue Volunteers
The award-winning Steve Mock, Chair of the Denali Rescue Volunteers is back in Alaska for the season! Staff at the Talkeetna Ranger Station recently presented Steve with a gift to honor the Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service that he received late last summer. For more information about this prestigious NPS award, scroll about half way down this NPS article. 
DRV President Steve Mock (NPS Photo/J. Reichert)
As we’ve mentioned in the past, Steve’s volunteer spirit knows no bounds. Steve flew up to the Kahiltna Glacier this weekend for his 8th Denali patrol, including 3 West Buttress patrols and five basecamp patrols. Steve has already been hard at work in Talkeetna, leading climbing orientations at the Talkeetna Ranger Station by day, and presenting Denali slideshows at the McKinley Princess Lodge by night.
Steve will complete his basecamp patrol duties just in time to enjoy (and host!) the annual DRV fundraiser on June 8, a collaboration with the Denali Arts Council. This year, DRV and DAC will present the Vanccouver International Mountain Film Festival at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar in downtown Talkeetna. Steve has even wrangled his talented brother 'Doc Mock' to provide live musical entertainment during the event. For more information and tickets, go to the DAC events webpage.
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
After debating whether sky conditions were considered more "ping pong ball" or "milk jug", West Buttress Patrol #1 takes a moment to test the dance floor at 14,200-feet in early May. The dance floor eventually became the NPS communications tent. The blue octagonal tent to the right is the kitchen tent, while the future medical tent still sits in the stack of gear in the middle of the photo. (NPS Photo / Andrea Tupy)