On May 12^th, an accident involving a roped team of 4 climbers occurred near the summit on Denali. The rescue and retrieval of the climbers became a somewhat complicated mix of Park Service, military as well as volunteer assistance and may go down in the mountaineering history books.  Sue Deyoe spoke with the helicopter pilot and one of the rangers in charge of the operation…

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The Denali Report for the week of May 16th…the rescue helicopter and a death on Denali.

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Denali has seen its second death in one week.  Mountaineers and rangers at the seventeen thousand-two hundred foot high-camp on Mt McKinley saw a climber fall from Denali Pass this morning. (more…)

The climber who died on Denali on Thursday has been identified as 38 year old Beat Niederer   of Switzerland. (more…)

KTNA’s morning news, weather forecasts, Denali echos, announcements for May 16th.  Host is Trisha Costello. Headlines – Dead climber on Denali identified; Trapper Creek festival gets preliminary injunction, Residents voice concerns on Talkeetna parking and riverfront. 16 min.

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The following press release was issued by the National Park Service in Talkeetna, Alaska, at 4:54 p.m A.S.T on Friday, May 13th:

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Two remaining injured climbers were evacuated from the 17,200-foot high camp on Mt. McKinley in the afternoon of Friday, May 13. Both climbers, one a guide and the other a client, suffered from frostbite to the hands and feet after a night spent at high elevation in cold temperatures and gusty winds. The guide also reportedly sustained a broken rib.
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On Friday afternoon it was determined that the two men could not safely descend the mountain on foot, so a helicopter evacuation was initiated. Both men were individually shorthauled from the 17,200-foot camp to the 14,200-foot camp by NPS ranger John Loomis and B3 helicopter pilot Andy Hermansky. From there, the helicopter flew them down to the Kahiltna Basecamp for a fixed wing flight back to Talkeetna. (more…)

The following press release was issued by the National Park Service in Talkeetna, Alaska:

Denali National Park and Preserve mountaineering rangers launched a rescue effort this morning Thursday, May 12 for two members of a guided

expedition. A four-person rope team, including one guide and three clients, fell while descending from the summit ridge of Mt. McKinley very

late on Wednesday or early today Thursday, according to NPS spokesperson Maureen McLaughlin. (more…)

The Denali Report has undergone revision and is now a very short overview of one specific idea or topic each week of climbing season.  In this first episode, South District Ranger speaks about risk and keeping his staff safe.

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