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TODAY'S STATS - 5//23 |
Denali |
Mt. Foraker |
|
Registered Climbers |
903 |
6 |
|
Climbers Currently On Mountain |
83 |
0 |
|
Completed Climbs |
1 |
0 |
|
Number of Summits |
1 |
0 |
|
Summit Percentage |
100% |
0% |
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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. |
Mountain Weather
At 7:30 this morning, Gabby at 7K reports a temp of 16 F, obscured skies, and it was snowing at the time. Chrissie at 11K reports windy conditions, with variable visibility. Joe and Jake report a cloudy morning at 14K, with 1" new snow overnight.
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.
Backcountry Conditions Reports
There are currently 116 permitted climbers and skiers in the park's glaciated backcountry, distributed as follows:
4 on the Peters Glacier
20 in the Upper Kahiltna
44 in the Upper Ruth
15 on Mount Hunter
26 in Little Switzerland
5 in the Eldridge Glacier
2 on the Tokositna Glacier
Peak 11,300 (reported May 8) "Attempted SW Ridge starting May 6. Sugar snow, deep wallowing. Bailed at Flake Gully. May 7 climbed a few pitches of "Right Gully" on West Face of 11,300 and found fun alpine ice and mixed conditions."
(If you don't see what you are looking for, be sure to review the past few Field Reports for more observations. We are only sharing new entries in the Conditions Report binder each Field Report)
Search Continues for Two Climbers on the Moose's Tooth
(from the news release dated 5/9/23) The search continues for signs of two missing climbers on the Moose’s Tooth, a 10,300-foot peak near the Ruth Gorge in Denali National Park and Preserve. Based on boot prints and other clues, 34-year-old Eli Michel and 32-year-old Nafiun Awal, likely fell while climbing high on the West Ridge route of the Moose’s Tooth on Friday, May 5.
Search efforts began Sunday, May 7 after a concerned friend alerted park officials that the team had not checked back via InReach following their climb. Denali National Park mountaineering rangers and the park’s contracted helicopter pilot conducted two flight missions each on Sunday and Monday, for a total of 7.8 flight hours. On both days, ground searches of the heavily-crevassed glacier at the base of the peak were conducted by a mountaineering ranger harnessed to the end of a helicopter shor-haul rope.
Clues collected in the two days of searching include the team’s vacant tent site with ski and boot tracks leading up into a small slab avalanche near the top of the West Ridge route. Several pieces of the climber’s equipment were also sighted along the 3,200-foot fall line, including two ice axes and a climbing helmet.
The aerial search for the two missing men will continue when the weather allows, with a focus on the base of the fall line. Current weather conditions in the Ruth Gorge include low visibility and snowfall, with no flight activity expected on Tuesday, May 9. Updated information on the search will be shared when it becomes available.
Ranger Reports
14K Patrol #1 (Reichert/Kayes) - Patrol #1 made it to 14,200-foot camp on Sunday, May 7, reporting beautiful evening conditions. They woke Monday to clear but chilly conditions, and began setting up camp. As of today, the team had erected the kitchen tent and the communications tent.
14K Patrol #2 (Oken) - Patrol #2 are spending a rest day at 11,000 feet today.
7K Patrol #2 (Bomba) Ranger Chelsea Bomba flew into Basecamp. Forming a power trio, Chelsea's volunteer patrol members include VIP Josh Hoschen (AMS Lead Guide) and VIP Melis Coady (Director of AK Avalanche School). Didn't catch a photo as they went up to Basecamp, but will be sure to post one upon their return.
Photo of the Day
West Ridge of the Moose’s Tooth. The red box indicates the vicinity of the boot tracks that lead into a small avalanche area. (NPS Photo)