This is the Denali Report for May 30, 2025
As of this week, there were 931 mountaineers registered to climb Denali and 385 of them are on the mountain. There were 30 people registered to climb Mt. Foraker, and 7 climbers are on that mountain.
157 have finished their expeditions.
Ask any mountaineer and they will most likely tell you that summiting Denali is weather dependent. Teams can get stuck at the 17,000 foot camp during week-long blizzards and below zero weather. Coupled with the lack of oxygen at that altitude, it can be daunting to wait for a clear day to travel higher.
Last week the weather provided a short window of sunshine. A guided team who began climbing in early May reported summiting on May 24th and another guided team reported reaching the top on May 26th.
Reports from Denali during that time, described clear, but icy conditions at the Headwall with very little wind. The Headwall is a steep incline, hundreds of feet high. It is sometimes referred to as the “Fixed Lines” because of ropes that are affixed onto the icy slope there. Climbers clip into the ropes and then use a tool called an ascender. An ascender can slide up the rope but then grips to prevent sliding backwards. Climbers encounter the Headwall when traveling between the 14,000 ft camp and the 17,000 foot camp.
The current mountain forecast is for increasing winds with heavy snow today. Climbers at high camp will hunker down for that, hoping for milder conditions, expected on Sunday.
You’ve been listening to the Denali Report, For KTNA, I’m Colleen Love
