Field Report, July 6

July 06, 2015 Posted by: Maureen Gualtieri

TODAY'S STATS

Mt. McKinley

Mt. Foraker

Registered Climbers

1,090

15

Climbers Currently On Mountain

107

0

Completed Climbs

969

15

Number of Summits

555

6

Summit Percentage

57%

40%


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

There will be no more daily weather observations for the season now that all NPS Denali patrols are finished and TAT/K2 Basecamp Manager Lisa Roderick is back home in Talkeetna (actually, she flies off today!). The FAA webcam and NWS forecasts are still in play. 

FAA Kahiltna Glacier webcam

National Weather Service forecast  


Ranger Update

NPS Denali Patrol #6 (Gentzel, Corn, 4 VIPs) got the 14,200-foot camp equipment all packed up and flown off the mountain on Friday, July 3. Then they stayed on the mountain a couple extra days doing a final clean sweep on their descent through 11K, 9K, 7.8K, down to Basecamp.  The patrol flew off the mountain yesterday afternoon, July 5. 

Rangers Mik Shain and Chris Erickson are on patrol on the Eldridge Glacier. 

All staff members have now commenced the work of sorting, taking inventory, repairing, cleaning, stowing the gear brought down from the mountain.

And of course, the season isn't over until all the climbers return safe and sound. Currently, over 100 climbers remain on the mountain, the majority of which are guided expeditions.


Route Conditions

Warm temperatures have returned, and the lower glacier was most recently described as 'soggy.'   We will continue to relay any significant news about the route that we learn from climbers checking back or from guides that may contact us from the mountain in the next week or two.     


Photo(s) of the Day

 Surveyors check equipment at 17K
Surveyor Blaine Horner (right) gives the summit survey GPS equipment a final check at 17,200-foot camp before the team headed up to place it on the summit of Denali. The equipment remained on the summit for about 24 hours, recording data that will be used to make a final USGS determination of the mountain height. NPS Ranger Joey McBrayer (left) looks on.  (Photo courtesy of Compass Data)  

Blaine on summit
Compass Data Surveyor Blaine Horner on the summit of Denali.  The existing USGS summit marker is seen in the foreground.  Compass Data is currently working with the USGS and NOAA to analyze the GPS data to make a final determination on the mountain's elevation.  Photo courtesy of Compass Data.

Last updated: July 21, 2015

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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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