Field Report, June 28, 2023

June 28, 2023 Posted by: Maureen Gualtieri

 

TODAY'S STATS - 6/24/23	Denali	Mt. Foraker
Registered Climbers	1,019	4
Climbers Currently On Mountain	160	0
Completed Climbs	855	4
Number of Summits	258	0
Summit Percentage	30%	0%

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 [phone].

Mountain Weather
 

7K    (7 AM)  Gabby says "g'day. 33 F, calm, high overcast ~16,000 feet and wide open below (finally)!



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

The FAA webcam on the Kahiltna Glacier has yet to be installed for the 2023 season, but we'll let you now when its up and operational.

Conditions Reports

Nothing new to report, still lots of snow up there -- both high and low.  

Search and Rescue Activity

In followup to last Saturday's Field Report, an independent climber with a dislocated shoulder was evacuated from 11,000 feet last Saturday evening.  There have been no other responses since then. All Quiet on the Mountain Front!

Ranger Reports 

14K Patrol #7 (Davis)  Alan and fellow patrol members did spend a couple nights high camp this week, though weather kept them from heading higher than 17,200 feet.  Today, the team is descending from 14K to 7K for a hopeful flight out tomorrow.


14K Patrol #8 (Bomba)  Chelsea and crew are enjoying a quiet week at 14K, though they are expecting a plug of climbers to move up from 11K today. While its too soon to start packing up the major elements of camp, they are busy consolidating food and supplies, and preparing net loads of gear that can be shuttled down to BC as weather allows.


Another way patrol members stay limber and rescue-ready at 14,200 camp!  (NPS Photo)


7K Basecamp Patrol (Dalpes)  Ranger Mik Dalpes and volunteer patrol members Michelle Keagle and Tim Johnson were supposed to fly into Basecamp on Monday, June 26 - but weather did not cooperate. TODAY is the day, however, that skies cleared enough between Talkeetna and basecamp to sneak in a few flights. The trio will remain in camp through the weekend, packing up 7K camp infrastructure and receiving net loads of gear from 14K, as weather allows.
 

Photo of the Day
 

 Not an uncommon 'view' in 2023.  (NPS Photo / Chelsea Bomba)