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

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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…)

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:

-

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.
-

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.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.