Denali Report for May 23, 2025

This is the Denali Report for May 23, 2025

As of this week, there were 941 people registered to climb Denali and 228 of them are on that mountain. There are 30 people registered to attempt Mt. Foraker, and 23 of those have started their ascent.

19 climbers have finished their expeditions.

The National Park Service responded to two rescue calls recently.

On May 13th, rangers received a report of an avalanche near the Pika Glacier.  Three skiers were caught in the avalanche and two skiers were injured. Rangers responded by helicopter and rescued the skiers, one at a time, via short haul.  A short haul is accomplished by attaching the rescuee to a rope or cable suspended from the helicopter and then flying the suspended person to a safer location.

On May 17th, rangers responded to an inReach SOS on Mt. Hunter.  A climber there had taken a 50-foot fall and had broken his leg. Coordinates from the inReach device showed the climbing party on a long and technical alpine route. 

A second team of climbers happened to be on the same route and was assisting to lower the patient, one pitch at a time, to the base of the route.

Two rangers skied from Base Camp to the scene, where the patient was assessed, splinted and transported to a location suitable for a helicopter landing. The injured climber was then flown back to Talkeetna for further medical evaluation and treatment.

You’ve been listening to the Denali Report.  For KTNA, I’m Colleen Love