Talkeetna mountaineering guide oversees rappelling safety in D.C.

Local Talkeetna resident and Denali mountaineering ranger Brandon Latham is putting his climbing and technical rope rescue expertise to good use in Washington, DC this week. Latham is currently on a two-week detail assignment overseeing the safety of the rappelling operations involved in the repairs to the Washington Monument following the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that rocked the East Coast on August 23.  Latham, who in his off-time is a technical ropework instructor with Colorado-based Rigging for Rescue,  was selected to lead the Washington Monument repair crew by former Denali mountaineering ranger (and Talkeetna resident) Gordy Kito, who now works for the National Mall and Memorial Parks and is also providing project oversight for the earthquake repairs.