Mountaineer Masatoshi Kuriaki is back in the Alaska Range in his bid climb Mount Hunter in Winter alone. This will be the Japanese climber’s sixth attempt to be the first person to climb Mt. Hunter solo in winter. His previous attempts have been thwarted by weather, and his last try in 2010 saw him spend an astounding eighty-three days on the mountain, including 53 days spent hunkered down snowcaves, waiting for weather to clear. This time he says he’s brought enough supplies to stay on the mountain for 100 days, if that is what it takes.

On his sixth attempt he will us a similar approach as in previous attempts, Kuriaki says. He plans to approach the mountain by the West Ridge, which is the least difficult rout to the summit, but is a long and technical climb nonetheless, with many miles of corniced ridges, exposed faces and avalanche dangers. (more…)

The National Park Service has extended the comment period for the Environmental Assessment of permit allocations for climbing Mount McKinley until October 31^st.

The Environmental Assessment, or EA, is an attempt by the Park Service to address an item in the 2006 Backcountry Management Plan that limits guided permits to 25 percent of all permitted climbs on the mountain, or 375 guided permits out of the total 1500 permits available each season. This limit has guide companies worried about their ability to sustain their businesses, and see the Park as imposing a choke on commercial activity. (more…)

An Environmental Assessment (EA) for the allocation of climbing permits

between commercial guided climbing operators and independent, non-guided

climbers on Mount McKinley is now available for public review and comment, (more…)

Denali National Park and Preserve recently concluded a multi-year public

engagement process regarding a proposed increase to the Special Use Fee

that directly supports management of climbing activities on Mt. McKinley

and Mt. Foraker. After a lengthy examination of current program costs,

analysis of public comment, and collaboration with national climbing

organizations, Denali National Park and Preserve will increase its

Mountaineering Use Fee from $200 to $250 for youth ages 24 and under, and

$350 for all other Mt. McKinley and Mt. Foraker climbers. (more…)

The climbing season on Denali has wrapped up for the season.  All climbers are off the mountain and base camp has been removed. A total of 9 climbers died in the Alaska range this year, making for one of the deadliest seasons in recent history.  Sue Deyoe spoke with South District Ranger John Leonard about the season overall….

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Ten years ago on June 17^th an 11 year old Talkeetna resident became the youngest person to successfully summit Denali.  That record still stands.  At age 21, Galen Johnston has had a myriad of experiences since that time. This week, he spoke about that climb and reflects on how it influenced him…

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The names of the climbers in the fatal fall on Denali late Wednesday night have been released.

The four person team that fell from Denali Pass were led by Alpine Ascents International.  Their lead guide, 34 year old Suzanne Allen and client Peter Bullard, age 45, of China (an English national), died in the fall. (more…)

A fatal fall high on Denali took the lives of two climbers late Wednesday night and severely injured two others. These are the third and fourth deaths on the mountain this year, with seven deaths overall in the Alaska Range this climbing season. Reporter Sue Deyoe has more on the most recent accident.

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People climb Denali for various causes – Climbing for the Cure, the Wounded Warrior project, climbing to support certain individuals.  There is a team headed up the mountain at the end of the week that has Su Valley High School in mind.

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