Basecamp in and climbing season begins

Denali’s basecamp officially opens tomorrow (Tuesday) with basecamp manager Lisa Roderick and park rangers preparing to fly to the camp on the Kahiltna Glacier.

Several climbing groups are already on the mountain. 

There were reports of freezing rain at basecamp on Sunday, almost unheard of at this time of year. 

There is much speculation to date as to the length of this climbing season after ashfall from Mount Redoubt dusted the mountain in March.  The last time a volcano sent ash across Denali, the climbing season was cut short due to unsafe conditions at basecamp.  Denali officials last week said that there is a possibility that once the layer of fresh snow melts and exposes the fine layer of ash, accelerated melting will occur.

The National Weather Service is forecasting high winds on Denali early this week.  Winds may be up to 75 miles per hour at the summit and 40 miles an hour closer to basecamp.