|
TODAY'S STATS |
Mt. McKinley |
Mt. Foraker |
|
Registered Climbers |
1,014 |
15 |
|
Climbers Currently On Mountain |
407 |
4 |
|
Completed Climbs |
421 |
11 |
|
Number of Summits |
207 |
4 |
|
Summit Percentage |
49% |
36% |
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
14,200 feet - After a couple cloudy, snowy days, rangers 14K report broken skies this morning over 14,200-feet. They have visibility of portions of Mt. Hunter, as well as a view of Denali's summit. Wind was calm this morning, with random gusts to 16 mph from the south. It was not snowing this morning, but 14K received 9 cm of new snow over the past several days. Temperatures remain colder than normal.
In the last 12 hours:
Current temp: -4 F (-20 C)
Low temp: -6 F (-21 C)
High temp: 7 F (-14 C)
7,200 feet - Basecamp has gotten dumped on in recent days - the storm total is up to 62 cm of snow since it began snowing on Monday. A light snow was falling this morning, winds were calm, temperatures cool.
In the last 12 hours:
Current temp: 23 F (-5 C)
Low temp: 23 F (-5 C)
High temp: 23 F (-5 C)
National Weather Service forecast
Ranger Update
NPS Denali Patrol #3 (Weber, 2 PJ's, 2 VIPs) is moving down from 17,200 feet to the 14,200-foot camp today. Maybe even down to Basecamp, if weather permits. On the flipside, three members of NPS Denali Patrol #4 (Chenoweth, 4 VIPs) are expected to move up to high camp today.
NPS Denali Patrol #5 (McBrayer, 4 VIPs) are camped at 11,000 feet. They will remain at that camp until tomorrow, when they will likely move up to 14,200-feet if conditions allow.
NPS Basecamp Patrol #4 (Westman + 2 VIPs) is spending a lot of time shoveling snow at Basecamp.
The last upper mountain patrol of the season, NPS Denali Patrol #6, is prepping and packing in Talkeetna. In addition to typical emergency response and other patrol duties, this final patrol is also responsible for the clean-up, packing, and extraction of the upper mountain infrastructure (both 14K and 17K camps). Patrol #6 will be led by two NPS Rangers, Coley Gentzel and Dan Corn. They will be joined by four VIPs, including Ashley Feerer (who just completed a Basecamp patrol with Dan Corn), Justin Fraser, Scott Owens, and Mingma Tenzing Sherpa. Mingma was selected for this year's Nepali/Sherpa Exchange Program, and as such will swap high altitude knowledge and climbing skills with Denali mountaineering rangers, as well as rangers at both Yosemite National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
Route Conditions
The West Buttress route between 9,800 feet and 11,000 feet is now clearly and thoroughly wanded, helpful in the event any climbers find themselves moving through in whiteout conditions.
As a result of significant recent snowfall, climbers are advised of heightened avalanche conditions both during and immediately following the storm. On the bright side, travel on the lower glaciers will continue to improve as the snow settles.
Photo of the Day
