Minnesotan adventurer Lonnie Dupre has called off his quest to climb Mt. McKinley alone in the month of January after 18 days on the mountain. Beset by raging storms, extreme winds, and phenomenal cold, the climber has ceded victory to the Mountain and returned to Talkeetna.

One climber is still out in Denali National Park, steadily making his approach to the third-tallest peak in the Alaska Range. Japanese mountaineer Masatoshi Kuriaki has been steadily making his approach on Mount Hunter since December 14^th. It is his 6^th attempt to summit Mt. Hunter alone in Winter, a feat never before achieved. (more…)

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The National Park Service is changing the way it charges visitors to Denali National Park and Preserve. Visitors now will be charged per head, not per vehicle.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner says after reviewing public comments, the park service has decided to eliminate a $20-a-vehicle entrance fee and instead charge a flat $10-a-person entrance fee for visitors age 16 and older. That means a vehicle with four adults in it will have to pay $40 instead of $20. (more…)

KTNA’s morning news, weather forecast, Denali echoes, and announcements for October 26th. Host is Ann Yadon. Headlines – House passes Kantishna hydro bill.

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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…)

Denali National Park officials have been working on an environmental document that will guide the park in making decisions on the capacity for vehicles on the Park Road.  The process started in 2006.  Another public comment period is underway.

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The Denali rescue helicopter and rangers were busy Monday night dealing with a number of mountaineers with high altitude issues.  In three seperate incidents, one patrol dealt with HACE patients.

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An ice avalanche killed a climber near the Ruth Gorge in the Alaska Range early Thursday morning.  The climber was on a guided climb and another guided party was caught up in the avalanche as well.  The guiding companies involved in the accident and those that climb on the Ruth Glacier on a regular basis are talking about  the unpredictable event and wonder what could have been done differently.  Sue Deyoe has more the accident:

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The former chief of planning for Denali National Park, Mike Tranel, has been named superintendent for Klondike Gold Rush National Park in Skagway.   He helped Denali Park complete its backcountry management plan as well as other management plans.  Since 2008, he has been in Washington DC representing Alaska parks on regulatory and policy issues. (more…)

In 2009, the Parks Highway, from the Chulitna River bridge to Fairbanks, became a national scenic byway.

Now the state of Alaska is planning a master interpretive plan for the stretch of highway from milepost 132 to Fairbanks. (more…)