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TODAY'S STATS - 6/4/24 |
Denali |
Mt. Foraker |
|
Registered Climbers |
981 |
25 |
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Climbers Currently On Mountain |
409 |
2 |
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Completed Climbs |
334 |
23 |
|
Number of Summits |
135 |
0 |
|
Summit Percentage |
40% |
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
Anecdotally, sounds like mid-level clouds are sitting at 14,200-foot camp, though its clear above and below.
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
Conditions Report
Travis reports the lower mountain is great shape, although not really wanded very well.
Ranger Reports
14K Patrol #2 (Davis) Patrol #2 is off-mountain after a tough final few days up high. As the most acclimated team on the mountain, and taking advantage of a clear weather window, the Patrol #2 & #3 Combo Platter remained at 17K an extra day to serve as ground crew for the recovery of a 36-year-old Malaysian climber who died at 19,600 of exposure and altitude illness. After assisting with the recovery efforts, Alan and his remaining patrol members flew off the mountain late in the evening on May 31.
14K Patrol #3 (Oken) The band is back together after mixing it up with Patrol #2 last week. Ranger Chrissie Oken and two of her original VIPs went up to 17K on Friday, May 31 to reunite with the two that assisted with the upper mountain incident of last week. Once reunited, the team endured a few uncomfortably windy days at high camp over the weekend, then descended to 14K last night to assist with a frostbite patient there. Most of the team will take the slow road to Basecamp starting tomorrow, scooping up cached gear left behind along the way by multiple evacuated climbers.
14K Patrol #4 (Bomba) Wondering if they were missing out on the action, Chelsea's patrol reached 14,200-foot camp late last week and have been working hard ever since. The last few days have all been spent in the medical tent, tending to illness and cold injuries.
14K Patrol #5 (Baldwin-Kayes) Ranger Jake Kayes had so much fun on Patrol #1, he's going back for more. This time Jake is joined by Ranger Travis Baldwin, patrol volunteers Sean Smith and Tate Hughes, and two Alaska Air National Guard Pararescuemen from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage -- Jared Isaacson and Micah McKinnis. The team flew in last Friday, and today they are moving up to 11,000-foot camp.
WB Patrol #5 from left to right: PJ Micah McKinnis, VIP Sean Smith, VIP Tate Hughes, PJ Jared Isaacson, and NPS Ranger Travis Baldwin. The beautiful blonde lounging in the foreground, Charlie Rust, agreed to sit in as proxy for NPS Ranger Jake Kayes, who had flown into the Alaska Range moments before in the park helicopter to assist with an evac. (Note to Jake's mom and dad: we'll be sure get some actions shot of Jake in the weeks to come) 7K Patrol #3 (Mock) Steve, Teri, and Ron had a blast at basecamp the last week and a half, and were in a critical transfer location for several of the evacuations. The trio flew out yesterday afternoon, swapping with Kakiko.
7K Patrol #4 (Ramos-Leon) Kakiko and Friends take the next basecamp rotation, flying in this afternoon with two Anchorage-based volunteers, Devin Wilson and Anthony Fletes, for five-days. Here they are, poised for departure:
VIP Anthony Fletes, VIP Devin Wilson, and NPS Ranger Jose (Kakiko) Ramos-Leon (NPS Photo)
Denali Rescue Volunteers
The annual Denali Rescue Volunteers fundraiser, a collaboration with the Denali Arts Council, will be held on June 8. This year, DRV and DAC presents the Vanccouver International Mountain Film Festival at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar in downtown Talkeetna. DRV Board President Steve Mock 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
Park Ranger Chrissie Oken takes a moment to share the history of the Clean Mountain Can with a park visitor at 14,200 feet. (NPS Photo)