|
TODAY'S STATS - 5/9/22 |
Denali |
Mt. Foraker |
|
Registered Climbers |
1.040 |
17 |
|
Climbers Currently On Mountain |
61 |
2 |
|
Completed Climbs |
0 |
0 |
|
Number of Summits |
0 |
0 |
|
Summit Percentage |
0% |
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. |
As of May 9, there are 73 backcountry users exploring the Alaska Range:
- 21 in Upper Kahiltna
- 25 in the Upper Ruth
- 10 on Mount Hunter
- 3 on the Tokositna Glacier
- 14 in Little Switzerland
Mountain Weather
Monday, May 9, 8:00 AM observation from Lisa at basecamp is "Lite snow, obscured towards west. Can see some of Hunter. 14 F with lite winds from the northwest. 5 inches of new snow."
Rangers at 14K report winds of 30 mpg in the basin with too much blowing snow to quantify in inches. Looks like stronger winds up higher, but luckily no teams are currently camped at 17K.
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 scheduled to be installed in the field on Monday, May 9 for the 2022 season, so stay tuned.
Conditions Reports
New report from Mount Hunter, left sometime over the weekend: North Buttress, French Route - Excellent conditions on North Buttress couloir. Very snowy on headwall. Highpoint 2 pitches below final ice field.
Search and Rescue
With great sadness, we report a climbing fatality on Denali this past week. Professional mountain guide and solo climber Matthias Rimml from Tirol, Austria, the first climber of the 2022 season, died in what appears to be a fall from below Denali Pass. For more information, go to our park news releases:
Rangers Initiate Search for Solo Climber on Denali
Body of Solo Climber Located on Denali
Ranger Reports
NPS 14K Patrol #1 (Dossin, Davis) Galen and Alan and their team made it to the 14,200-foot basin on Saturday afternoon. Between wind gusts, they are beginning to assemble the bits and pieces that will be the NPS 14,200-foot camp. Seven of the 13 netloads have made it to 14K, so still plenty of gear to be shuttled. First step is building the platforms for the camp medical and communication tents to sit on.
NPS 14K Patrol #2 (Oken) Ranger Chrissie Oken is excited to lead the first all-women NPS 14K patrol! Fellow patrol members include VIP's Dr. Anna Condino, Kori Landauer, Sara Olbright, and Jesse Quillian. The team is busy packing in Talkeetna for tomorrow's scheduled flight into Basecamp, though they did make time for a quick photo shoot. Couldn't decide which shot best reflected their collective enthusiasm, so we'll share both.
The Team - Vertical orientation. From left to right: VIP Anna Condino, VIP Sara Olbright, VIP Jesse Quillian, VIP Kori Landauer, and NPS ranger Chrissie Oken. (NPS Photo/M. Gualtieri) 
The Team - Hortizontal orientation. (NPS Photo/M. Gualtieri)
NPS 7K Patrol #1 (Bomba) With the hardest camp set-up work behind them, the trio has worked in some evening climbs in the Kahiltna vicinity, including Radio Tower. Their out date is tomorrow, weather permitting.
Denali Rescue Volunteers Event
Coming soon to a theater near you! Or, at least, near us. Denali Rescue Volunteers and Denali Arts Council are teaming up to present the Alaska premiere of the Sanctity of Space to the big screen in downtown Talkeetna, Alaska. "Inspired by the photography of legendary explorer Brad Washburn, three friends traverse some of Alaska's most challenging peaks." The Sanctity of Space will show Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, showtime 7:00 PM at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar. Rumor has it that filmmaker and climber Freddie Wilkinson will be on hand to introduce the film. A portion of the event proceeds will go to support the two non-profits hosting the event -- Denali Rescue Volunteers and Denali Arts Council.
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
In a continuation of 2021 COVID precautions, NPS mountaineering ranger Kakiko Ramos-Leon conducts an outdoor orientation for an American Alpine Institue guided expedition. All guided groups are undergoing their check-ins at the Talkeetna State Airport prior to fly-in. (NPS Photo/Chelsie Valetta)