Field Report, May 18, 2022

May 18, 2022 Posted by: Maureen Gualtieri
 

TODAY'S STATS - 5/18/22

    Denali    

Mt. Foraker

Registered Climbers

1,109

17

Climbers Currently On Mountain

277

7

Completed Climbs

15

0

Number of Summits

0

0

Summit Percentage

0%

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 (907) 733-9127.


Although we have heard rumors of at least 4 summits of Denali this last week, those teams are still out enjoying the mountains and have yet to check back in with Talkeetna Ranger Station staff.As of May 18, there are 32 backcountry users exploring the Alaska Range:

  • 4 in Upper Kahiltna
  • 11 in the Upper Ruth
  • 10 on Mount Hunter
  • 3 on the Tokositna Glacier
  • 4 in Little Switzerland


Mountain Weather


Wednesday, May 18: Gabby Faurot at basecamp reports “a blue bird day. the catabatic winds are settling down on the surface here.”

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. 

Click here for the National Weather Service Denali Climbing Forecast

The FAA webcam on the Kahiltna Glacier -- Almost operational, still troubleshooting some internet connectivity issues. 


Conditions Reports


On the West Buttress, a climber punched into a crack at the top of Motorcycle Hill, unclipped.  He was able to stop himself about 8 feet down, but reports it was a very deep crevasse.  Rope up! 


Take COVID Precautions


The 2021 Denali climbing community got lucky last year with no reported COVID cases during the mountaineering season.  This season, with more contagious variants and fewer prevention protocols in place internationally, COVID has begun to make its mark in the Alaska Range.

Following reports in the past several days of climbers returning from the mountains to Talkeetna with signs and symptoms of COVID, Denali NP rangers strongly encourage preventative measures to ensure climbers don’t contract the virus before their flight into the Alaska Range.  These measures include the CDC recommendations:

  • Staying up-to-date on vaccinations and boosters;
  • Wearing a mask when indoors
  • Staying 6 feet away from others
  • Avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces
  • Washing hands frequently.

These precautions are especially important in the two weeks before your expedition start date and during your time in Talkeetna! You have likely invested a great deal of money, time (months? years?), and energy into planning this expedition. Don't let COVID-19 ruin that investment.

Although optional COVID testing is now available daily in downtown Talkeetna by the non-profit partner Denali Education Center (click for more info), testing does not take the place of prevention.  The virus, particularly with the current variants, is not always detectable in asymptomatic individuals.


Search and Rescue 
 

In follow up to the fatal fall that occurred at Denali Pass at the beginning of May, the body of Austrian solo climber Matthias Rimml was recovered via a long-line helicopter operation on Tuesday, May 17. 

Later that same night as the recovery effort, a fatal crevasse fall occurred at the base of Mount Hunter’s North Buttress.  See the news release for more information.


Ranger Reports


NPS 14K Patrol #1 (Dossin, Davis)  Rangers Galen Dossin and Alan Davis served as the ground crew on Tuesday’s body recovery of Matthias Rimml at 17,000 feet. After that helicopter long-line operation was complete, the rangers descended back to the 14,200-foot camp. The NPS patrol was just delivered a new spool of fixed line rope and will commence line maintenance and replacement today.

NPS 14K Patrol #2 (Oken)  Patrol #2 spent another day acclimatizating day at 11,000 feet.  Today the team packs up and makes the big move around Windy Corner to 14,200-foot camp. Once Chrissie and crew get established, Patrol #1 will head up to high camp.

NPS 14K Patrol #3 (Baldwin/Ramos-Leon)  Rangers Travis Baldwin and Kakiko Ramos-Leon flew into the Kahiltna Basecamp on Tuesday, May 18.  Joining Travis and Kakiko are US Air National Guard Pararescueman Tony Yusup, Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) Jason Ramsdell and VIP Christian Black.  No strangers to search and rescue, Jason is ‘on vacation’ from his day job as a law enforcement ranger at Glen Canyon National Park, and Christian has served on Yosemite’s search and rescue team (YOSAR).  Almost immediately upon arriving at basecamp, the patrol set to work assisting with the long-line work associated with the body recovery. Several hours later, the team was awoken to help provide assistance in a fatal crevasse fall at the base of Mount Hunter.


Five mountaineers stand in front of small airplaneFrom left to right: NPS Ranger Kakiko Ramos-Leon, VIP Christian Black, NPS Ranger Travis Baldwin, VIP Jason Ramsdell, and PJ Tony Yusup.  (NPS Photo/Steve Mock) 


Meet the Temsco Crew


Denali National Park's mountaineering operations are largely possible due to the strong partnership with contractor TEMSCO Helicopters.  Each season, Denali NP and TEMSCO sign a 120-day exclusive use contract for the A-Star B3e helicopter, a powerful, yet agile aircraft well-suited for high altitude search and rescue operations on Denali.  For the next three weeks we will introduce you to the three members of the TEMSCO team that make it possible.  This week, say hello to Eric Ridington, the primary pilot for the 2022 contract. While its Eric's first year with the Denali contract, he is no stranger to high altitude flying.

Eric's background is in the guiding industry. He is an Association of Canadian Mountain Guides Ski Guide with over 14 years heli-ski and ski-mountaineering experience. Before that he was a Pro Ski Patrol on Whistler Mountain for 11 seasons and had a summer river guiding business.  Eric always wanted to fly helicopters and heli-ski guiding fueled the dream. 

Now in his 16th year as a pilot, Eric is a mountain flying specialist with over 8,000 hours experience in Alaska, Canada, and Nepal.  He has worked as a flight instructor for both the TC glider and FAA CFII helicopter. His flight experience spans firefighting, heli-skiing, fish and wildlife surveys, aerial filming, offshore platform operations, drill moves, production/precision longline, power and pipeline patrol, arctic and winter mountain flying, helicopter tourism, and high altitude rescues. 

Welcome, Eric, we are grateful to have you on the team!

Man with a snowy backdrop smiles at the cameraEric Ridington, primary pilot with TEMSCO Helicopters.  (Photo courtesy of Eric Ridington)   

 

 

Denali Rescue Volunteers


DRV logo 

Learn more about Denali Rescue Volunteers, an organization that helps make Denali National Park and Preserve's mountaineering operations whole! Thank you for all that you do each season, from helping equipping our volunteers, housing them before and after patrols, and supporting our recruitment process! 
 
 

Photo of the Day

 

Moonlight on the Radio Tower
Moonlight on the Radio Tower.  (NPS Photo/Chelsea Bomba)

Last updated: May 18, 2022

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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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