The view of Denali from Camp 1, looking up the NE fork of the Kahiltna.The route from Base Camp to Camp 1 does not gain much altitude overall, but the trail drops about 600 feet right out of Base Camp, so the total altitude gain ends up being about 1,200 ' (365 m). There are a couple of fairly heavily crevassed sections along the way, and the team needed to take care to negotiate these areas. There is not nearly as much crevasse hazard from Camp 1 until they turn Windy Corner at about 13,500' (4115 m).
A view looking southeast over Camp 1 toward the E Fork of the Kahiltna, with Mt Francis to the right and Mt Hunter in the clouds at center. (shot from previous trip)Everyone is doing great, except Jared the lead guide who has picked up a bit of a cold. He's doing Ok, but is certainly hoping he gets better in the next few days.
Anchorage Daily News
ReplyDeleteTwo climbers die in fall on Mount McKinley
By MEGAN HOLLAND
06/12/09 10:18:29
Two climbers died Thursday when they fell thousands of feet on Mount McKinley, the National Park Service said.
They were identified as Dr. John Mislow, 39, of Newton, Mass., and Dr. Andrew Swanson, 36, of Minneapolis.
The climbing partners were roped together and fell at least 2,000 feet to their deaths on the Messner Couloir. Another team saw them fall from the 16,500-foot elevation to 14,500 feet, a statement from the Park Service said. But where the pair started falling is not known yet, said spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin.
The doctors were considered experienced climbers. In 2000, when the pair made their first and only other trip to the mountain, the Park Service gave them an award for safety, self-sufficiency and assisting other mountaineers. They helped other teams in distress, the service said.
The two men were alone and began their climb of the West Rib on May 30. It was unclear if they were on their way up or down the 20,320-foot Mount McKinley. The Messner Couloir is not a route typically used to ascend or descend the mountain. It is a steep snow gully that drops from 19,000 feet to the 14,200-foot basin. It has been increasingly popular with skiers but the men did not have skis with them, McLaughlin said. She said it's possible they were traversing the ridge.
The Park Service was still gathering information to determine exactly what happened. McLaughlin said they will interview any teams that may have run into the pair but it's possible they will never know why they were on the Messner Couloir or why they fell.
The weather Thursday was good, with clear skies and light breezes, McLaughlin said.
Three skiers were the first to get to the fallen men. A team of rangers, including medics, arrived shortly thereafter and confirmed the men died in the fall.
Rangers recovered the bodies in a helicopter Thursday night.
Climbing of North America's highest peak is in full swing right now, with 339 climbers on the mountain. Typically about 1,100 people attempt it every year. The average length of stay is 18 or 19 days, McLaughlin said.