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…)

The Alaska delegation introduced legislation to Congress that would clear the way for an in-state, natural gas pipeline to be built along the Parks Highway. The bill is aimed to authorize a right-of-way along the highway and also through a small portion of the Denali National Park. (more…)

More than half of the climbers who scaled Mt. McKinley last year reached the summit. Denali National Park officials say 1,222 climbers took on McKinley in 2010 and 55 percent, or 670 climbers, reached the summit. (more…)

Denali National Park officials are asking the public for comments on the costs of the climbing program on Mt McKinley and Mt. Foraker.  As budgets are examined nationwide and parks struggle to pay for services, Denali National Park is looking at their mountaineering program, which costs $1.4 million each year to operate.  They are collecting input from climbers across the U.S. on the current system.

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The National Park Service has extended the public comment period for the environmental assessment considering the allocation of mountain climbing permits for commercial guiding operations. (more…)

Search and rescue aircraft have discovered the apparent wreckage of an Air Force f-22 Raptor assigned to Elmendorf and Richardson Air Force bases southeast of Cantwell. (more…)

The National Park Service has opened a public comment period to examine the possibility of raising fees that mountaineers pay to climb Mt McKinley and Mt. Foraker.  Despite an increase in the special use fee in 2005, the current revenue only covers 17% of the cost of the program overall.  Park officials are asking climbers and others nationwide to weigh in hopes of coming up with a solution.

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Denali National Park officials are preparing an Environmental Assessment to examine the allocation of climbing permits between commercial guided climbing operators and independent climbers on Denali.

Mail scoping comments to Superintendent, DNP &P, Attn. Climbing EA, PO Box 9, Denali Park, AK 99755

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KTNAs morning news, weather forecast, Denali echos and announcements for October 22nd. Host is Sue Deyoe. Headlines — Candidate list narrowed to 4; AFN Convention endorses Murkowski; Climbing EA out for Denali National Park. 16 min.

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