Denali Report for June 17th, 2022

The summit rate continues to rise, and it’s been a busy few days for search and rescue in the Alaska Range. 

As of Thursday, there are 1,129 climbers registered to attempt Denali in the 2022 season. Of those, 282 are currently on the mountain, and 758 climbs have been completed.  There have been 523 successful summits so far this year, giving a summit rate of 69%.

Thirteen climbers have registered to attempt Mt. Foraker.  Eight of those are currently on the mountain, and five climbs have been completed.  There have not been any summits of Mt. Foraker so far in 2022.

The last week has seen a continued gradual increase in the summit rate on Denali.  While it currently sits just below seventy percent, it peaked earlier this week at seventy-one percent.  While the summit rate varies year-to-year based on conditions, it tends to remain between fifty and sixty percent.

After a quiet week in search and rescue as of last Friday, this week saw an increase in activity.  One climber was evacuated from the mountain after suffering from a combination of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema and COVID 19. Later, Rangers helped an exhausted duo returning from a difficult summit day with the help of professional guides leading other groups.  On Saturday evening, one member of a trio fell while skiing and was injured.  His partners stayed with him at very high elevation on the mountain until help could arrive and evacuate the fallen climber.  They later had to be evacuated, themselves.

The National Park Service provides multiple updates each week during climbing season in the Denali Dispatches blog.