Field Report, May 3, 2017

May 03, 2017 Posted by: Maureen Gualtieri
 

TODAY'S STATS

    Denali    

Mt. Foraker

Registered Climbers

883

19

Climbers Currently On Mountain

49

7

Completed Climbs

5

0

Number of Summits

5

0

Summit Percentage

100%

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.

 
As of today, 82 registered climbers are in the following areas:

> 28 - Upper Ruth Gorge
>  2 -  Lower Ruth Gorge
> 13 - Moose's Tooth
>  3  - Mountain House
> 14 - Upper Kahiltna
> 13 - Little Switzerland
>  4  - Tokositna Glacier
>  2  - Kichatna Spires
>  3  - Mount Hunter
 

Mountain Weather


The National Weather Service Denali Climbing Forecast is now available, along with several helpful new links.

Stay tuned for actual weather observations from the Kahiltna Basecamp, with observations from the 14,200-foot camp to follow once the first patrol of the season reaches camp.

Likewise, stay tuned for the FAA Webcam links.
 

Ranger Update


NPS Denali Patrol #1 (Rangers Mik Shain and Frank Preston; VIPs Ryan VanLuit, Andrea Tupy, Jeffrey Lane, and Andrew Peacock) left Basecamp today. The patrol will make camp at 7,800-foot camp tonight.     


Route Conditions


DENALI / Mt. Crosson


Two earthquakes on Denali fault over the last few days:

5.2 on Muldrow on April 29
3.0 on Muldrow on May 1

Climbers say they felt a lot of shaking and heard avalanches and serac falls on all aspects.

As mentioned above, NPS Patrol #1 is moving to 7,800 camp this afternoon.  They report unseasonably warm conditions on the glacier.  The patrol crew is re-setting the trail to glacier center.  Many climbers have been making shortcuts through icefalls near the base of Frances and into the East Fork of the Kahiltna and punch-ins and crevasse falls have been reported.

Mt. Crosson has melted out dramatically in the last month and looks much more like it would in late May, already with lots of rock exposed on its southern aspect and rock bands exposed on its southeastern nose.


RUTH  


(5/2/17) "Attempted Ham and Eggs on May 1. Bailed on 4th pitch due to poor conditions. Lots of sugary / unconsolidated snow. No ice pro found. May 2 - 5 inches new snow overnight. Route hadn't slid significantly in the last four days."
  -- Team PATC/AAC; Dustin, Dave, Pzotr, and Mike


(5/2/17) "Ham and Eggs is very snowy with rotting ice steps visible lower down. Did not climb due to consistent snowfall / loading. Consistent spindrift and serac fill, camp wisely out of hazard."
   -- San Juan Mountain Guides - Micah Lewkowitz
 

Photo of the Day
 

Panoramic View from Mt. CrossonA panoramic view from the top of Mount Crosson (NPS Photo/Dan Corn)

Last updated: May 3, 2017

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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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