|
TODAY'S STATS |
Denali |
Mt. Foraker |
|
Registered Climbers |
1,085 |
16 |
|
Climbers Currently On Mountain |
445 |
0 |
|
Completed Climbs |
493 |
16 |
|
Number of Summits |
238 |
7 |
|
Summit Percentage |
48% |
44% |
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.
Weather Report
7,200 feet - Clouds are sitting on top all the major peaks. Winds generally calm, but gusts to 20 mph out of the northwest. No new snow overnight, but about 5 cm fell at basecamp yesterday.
In the last 12 hours:
Current temp: 0 C / 32 F
Low temp: 2 C / 36 F
High temp: -2 C / 28 F
14,200 feet - Clear skies over 14 camp, with broken clouds sitting below at around 10,000 feet. No new snow last night or yesterday. Wind was 2 mph out of the northeast this morning, with gusts to 10 mph.
In the last 12 hours:
Current temp: -17 C / 1 F
Low temp: -17 C / 1 F
High temp: -13 C / 9 F
National Weather Service forecast
Ranger Update
NPS Denali Patrol #3 (Corn, 4 VIPs, 2 PJ's) The team is staged at high camp.
NPS Denali Patrol #4 (Shain, 4 VIPs) Lots of teams moving up to high camp, leaving 14 camp relatively quiet.
NPS Denali Patrol #5 (Gentzel, 3 VIPs) Gentzel and friends are likely moving up to the next camp tonight.
NPS Basecamp Patrol #4 (Coady, 1 VIP) Melis and Bace hosted a dozen or so 'stranded' flightseers yesterday, supplying them with hot chocolate and mountain tales, while they waited for an unexpected snow squall to move through.
Route Conditions
Night travel is the name of the game on the lower glacier, with most climbers leaving basecamp between 10 pm and 2 am. Snow is reportedly a a bit punchy off the trail. From basecamp, Melis has noted a lot of wet avalanche activity on multiple aspects as a result of warm daytime temperatures and non-freezing nights.
Normal crevasses are opening up near the 11,000-foot camp, but the rest of the trail appears to be in great shape. That said -- perhaps its this 'great shape' giving teams a false confidence -- but too many teams have been observed travelling un-roped on the lower glacier lately. Don't do it -- travelling un-roped is NOT ADVISED! Crevasse falls are always a potential hazard when travelling on the lower glacier.
Photo(s) of the Day
Ranger Melis Coady entertains some unexpected guests in the crowded NPS tent! NPS Photo/Mike Connolly
Ranger Mike Connolly (on right), a Visitor Use Assistant and Interpretive Ranger at the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station, visits with co-worker Melis Coady at the Kahiltna Basecamp on a day off yesterday. Mike was one of the dozen or so flightseers who enjoyed a taste of mountain weather during an unexpected snowstorm at basecamp. NPS Photo/Mike Connolly