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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KTNA’s morning news, weather forecast, Denali echos, announcements for May 2nd.  Host is Trisha Costello.  Headlines – Climber dies in avalanche near Moose’s Tooth in AK Range; Trapper Creek Elementary slated for new roof.  16 min.

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The National Park Service was able to release the name of the man killed in an ice fall avalanche in Denali National Park on Thursday.  Chris Lackey, age 39, from Houston, Texas was with one of two guided climbing parties that were camped overnight on the Root Canal landing area to the south of the infamous Moose’s Tooth.  A large serac collapsed and sent a violent jumble of ice down the mountain.  Both camps were buried in debris and everyone was thrown from their tents.  The 4 uninjured climbers tended to Lackey until evacuation by helicopter was possible.  While being transported, rangers determined Lackey had died from his injuries.  The NPS helicopter flew him to Talkeetna and returned to evacuate the surviving climbers, who had all lost their gear, tents and extra clothing.  For more on this story, see the other related headlines on our website.

-Ice fall near Ruth Glacier kills climber. (4/29)

-Climber dies in Alaska Range avalanche. (4/28)

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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An avalanche claimed the life of one male climber near the Ruth Gorge on the Denali massif early Thursday. (more…)

KTNA’s morning news, weather forecast, Denali echos, announcements for April 21st. Host is Sue Deyoe. Headlines – Chinook crews to deploy; Wasilla man recently arraigned for DUI dies on Parks Highway.  16 min.

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Kahiltna Basecamp Put In – B company’s 52nd Aviation Regiment’s “Sugar Bears” assist with Denali’s operations each spring.

The sights and sounds of spring in Talkeetna not only include birds returning to their summer home, dripping water and children playing, but Army Chinooks and Blackhawks.  The military aircraft from Fairbanks, along with 15 or more troops, show up in Talkeetna each spring for training. The annual event is one of the most unusual peace-time missions in Army helicopter airlift operations history. However, this year is different.

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A trial in federal court in Fairbanks last week concerning an arrest in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve a may set a precedent for other national park and preserve cases in Alaska.

71 year old Jim Wilde, his wife and a friend, were power-boating up the Yukon River from Circle last September on a moose hunting trip.  They were approached by National Park Service rangers in another boat.  The rangers said they wanted to conduct a routine boat safety check. (more…)

The State of Alaska recently made a land deal with a corporation that owns land inside Denali State Park.  That deal is being called a win-win situation by both parties.  What it may mean in the future is a large hotel built inside the park boundaries, but also road access for both parties with less impact on the surrounding area. Sue Deyoe has the story..

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