DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaska – Efforts are underway to rescue four climbers who took a fall on Alaska’s Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America, as reported by the National Park Service on Thursday.
The climbers’ current status remains unclear following the incident, which was notified to Denali National Park and Preserve rangers during the night. Rescue teams are awaiting favorable weather to access the site via helicopter, according to an agency statement. The climbers were part of a group of seven.
After the fall, the other three team members assisted their companions before returning to their camp, the statement detailed. The mishap occurred near Denali Pass at approximately 18,200 feet (5,547 meters). Subsequently, the climbers made their way back to the high camp situated at about 17,000 feet (5,181 meters). Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, reaches a height of around 20,310 feet (6,190 meters).
Historically, the traverse between high camp and Denali Pass has witnessed numerous accidents, including injuries and fatalities, primarily due to unprotected falls, as highlighted by park officials.
To mitigate risks, park rangers and mountain guides install snow pickets, crucial for building anchors on steep terrains, between high camp and Denali Pass. Climbers are advised to carry their own pickets, in case those placed by officials are missing or concealed by snow.
The park service mentioned that weather conditions on the mountain are improving, clearing the way for helicopter rescue operations to commence soon. The agency has yet to provide further comments.
A typical climbing season for Mount McKinley begins in late April and continues into mid-July, according to the park. It was not immediately clear how many climbers currently are on the mountain.
On Wednesday, two climbers as part of a separate incident were evacuated from the mountain by helicopter around 11 p.m., but the park service said it did not have additional information to share.
