Follow the Denali Road Crew as it clears snow and ice from the Park Road all the way west to Kantishna, more than 90 miles from the park entrance.

DENALI SPRING ROAD OPENING UPDATE FOR:  5-12-2009 Final Report

Final Report:  The plowing portion of the 2009 SRO ended with a whimper this weekend as the crew found only several feet of level ice at the notorious 'bent culvert', midway between Camp Denali and the Kantishna Roadhouse.  This ice field is typically 6-10 feet deep, with a dangerous tilt towards Moose Creek several hundred feet below.  The warm 70 degree temps of several weeks ago had melted almost all the snow, with only small remnant drifts in the ditches.  This past winter produced very little or no ice in the usual problem areas--the small stream before EVC and Eagle's Nest was iceless, as were the Eureka Creek and Friday Creek crossings.  Seasoned equipment operators think that the early snow and cold of last October sealed off most of the sub-surface water, which prevented ice from forming on the surface.

The quick snow melt did produce large slush flows and much erosion across many sections of the road, notably Mile 57 on Highway Pass and on Eielson Bluffs.  With the exception of Little Stony Flats and short sections on Thorofare Pass, the roadbed held up better than most years.  Even the Kantishna section has only a fraction of the usual soft spots.

Public Access Open To Mile:  Mile 30, Teklanika Gate

Weather Forecast: 
Currently:   +41
Today:  Mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers. Highs 45 to 50. Northwest winds around 15 mph.

Equipment Status:  All the heavy equipment is back on firmer Park Road and is being moved back towards Toklat.  The grader has smoothed over many of the eroded sections, and the Steam Team is concentrating on the many frozen culverts that blocked the flow of water and produced the erosion.

Notes/Observations/Comments:
There are some problem areas:  Little Stony Flats, where a silty section of the roadbed blew up; several soft spots on eastern Thorofare Pass; erosion gullies on Eielson Bluffs that have narrowed the road further; and the usual soupy section (with a bottomless hole on the side) between the Outlet Creek culvert and North Face Lodge. Remember the 2010 SRO begins March 15......see you then !