Search continues for missing Denali climber

Aerial searchers came up with no leads Friday for the climber missing since Tuesday.

Four NPS spotters flew in a Cessna Conquest aircraft on two seperate missions at the upper elevations of Denali to get a clear look at the summit plateau in the search for Dr. Gerald Myers.  Lower level cloud cover prohiited a helicopter search in the mountain’s middle elevations.

Hundreds of high resolution images were collected.  The photos can be carefully analyzed by the staff at the Talkeetna Ranger Station to find any clues.  Dr. Myers began his solo summit bid on Tuesday, May 19th.  He was sighted at various elevations during the day, but he did not return to camp that evening.   He was believed to be observed on the summit ridge at 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday. (remember the lightness factor at this time of year). However, later information received indicates a possibility that the climber seen at that time might have been someone else.

Myers was carrying minimal survival gear for a fast climbing.  He was seen carrying skis on his pack, so potential ski descent routes are being studied.

Weather permitting, the search will continue through weekend.

Myers is a chiropractor from Centennial, CO.