Denali National Park and Preserve
Search and Rescue Requirements
The Mountain's Name
Denali (The High One) is the Native American word for North America's highest peak,
Mount McKinley, rising 20,320 feet (6,194m) in the mountain chain called the Alaska
Range. Denali was renamed Mount McKinley for William McKinley, a nominee for
president, by the Princeton graduate and gold prospector, William Dickeyi. Dickey was
one of the hundreds of prospectors seeking gold in the 1896 Cook Inlet stampede. He
had written an article for the New York Sun where he described the mountain as the
highest in North America at over 20,000 feet.
Arctic High Altitude Mountaineering
In the interest of personal safety all expedition members should be familiar with the potentially
very serious medical problems and extreme mental and physical stresses associated with high
altitude arctic mountaineeringii. You will be carrying heavy loads (often 60-90 lbs., 27-40kg.) at
altitudes between 7,000 and 20,000 feet (3000-6000 meters). Temperatures may range from 90
degrees F (32 C) to -50F (-40C).
Climbing Clean
Leave nothing in the mountains. Expeditions have climbed Denali and have carried out everything
brought in including their human waste. The most important part of clean climbing is planning
ahead.
General Information
Solo Climbing
The major hazard facing a soloist on Denali is that even the most cautious and experienced climber
is unable to determine the location of and/or strength of the many snow bridges that must be
crossed. Each year, a number of people take serious crevasse falls on the large Alaskan glaciers
The Expedition
The expedition should consist of at least two to four members. A larger expedition of four or more
provides greater inherent strength and self-rescue capability. Expeditions should not exceed 12
members
Climbing Seasons
Snow and weather conditions for climbing major Alaska Range peaks are usually best from May
through July. Colder minimum temperatures and strong northwest winds commonly occur in May.
Late June and July are warmer but more unsettled. Winter climbing in Denali borders on the
ridiculous more because of its unfathomable risks than because of its mountaineering challenge
Routes
With over 30 routes on Denali, the West Buttress, West Rib, Cassin Ridge and
Muldrow are the most frequently climbed. The West Buttress and the Muldrow are
Denali National Park and Preserve
the easiest ascent routes; the primary climbing difficulties being crevasses, steep ice and exposed
ice covered ridges
Route
Frequency
West Rib----------------------20%
Cassin Ridge-------------------7%
Muldrow------------------------45%
Guide Services
Seven American guide services are authorized for Denali, Mt. Foraker and other
peaks/mountainous areas within the Wilderness boundary. These and other guide services have
permits to operate within the new park additions outside the Wilderness. Each of the seven Denali
services meets stringent standards established by the National Park Service to insure a quality
operation. All operators are reviewed periodically to maintain a high standard.
Aircraft
Aircraft operated by commercial use permit holders are allowed to land in the new park additions.
The original park is designated Wilderness and, as such, motorized vehicles are prohibited.
Helicopters are not allowed to land in the park unless there is an emergency.
Medical Problems
Cold Injuriesiii
Major hazards of a Denali climb are frostbite and hypothermia. Denali presents a combination of
long exposure, severe weather, high altitude, low temperature and low humidity that make it one of
the most severe climates on Earth
Diagnosis and Prognosis.
The typical early signs of frostbite are sensations of cold or pain [loss of sensation and numbness]
and pallor of the affected skin. However, some victims may suffer little pain, and pain typically
disappears as the tissues begin to freeze. As freezing progresses, the tissues usually become even
whiter in appearance
Treatment.
The preferred treatment for frostbite is rapid rewarming in a... water bath. During rewarming, hot
water must be added to the bath periodically to keep the temperature at the desired leveliv. (A
frozen hand or foot is essentially a block of ice and does tend to cool the water.)... Warming usually
requires thirty to sixty minutes, and should be continued until the tissues are soft and pliable.
During rewarming, the frostbitten tissues usually become quite painful. Aspirin and codeine... may
be given during rewarming or afterward for pain.
Item
Use
Diphenhydramine
Allergies, Sleep
Ibuprofen
Headache, Muscle pain, Frostbite
Promethazine
Nausea, Vomiting
Sun Block
Sunburn Prevention
Denali National Park and Preserve
Acclimatization
It requires one to two weeks to become well acclimatized to a given altitude on Denali (depending
on the individual). Individuals also lose this acclimatization in the course of a few weeks. Talkeetna
is close to sea level which is a major disadvantage for someone who has established some
acclimatization and is waiting to fly in. The longer they wait, the more acclimatization is lost.
Several days spent high on peaks before your arrival will not be enough to transfer that
acclimatization to your climb here. You will lose that acclimatization in transit. Nearly all of these
falls prove to be little more than an adrenaline rush for the entire climbing team…unless of course, the
person who fell is either improperly roped or not roped at all. Unfortunately, experience plays little part in
determining who falls through these snow bridges. Some crevasses may be faintly visible while others are
totally undetectable.
Search and Rescue Requirements ................................................................................................................ 1
The Mountain's Name ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Arctic High Altitude Mountaineering .................................................................................................................. 1
Climbing Clean .................................................................................................................................................. 1
General Information ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Solo Climbing .................................................................................................................................................... 1
The Expedition .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Climbing Seasons ............................................................................................................................................. 1
Routes ............................................................................................................................................................... 1
Route
Frequency ............................................................................................................... 2
Guide Services .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Aircraft ............................................................................................................................................................... 2
Medical Problems .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Cold Injuries ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
Diagnosis and Prognosis................................................................................................................................... 2
Treatment. ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
Acclimatization .................................................................................................................................................. 3
i
Terris Moore, Mt.Mckinley: The pioneer climbs (New Haven: Yale UP, 1986) 32
ii
Jonathan Waterman, Surviving Denali, (Princeton, Princeton UP, 1988) 567
James A Wilkerson M.D., “Medicine for Mountaineering “, Outdoor Life, June 1992: 34
iv James a Wilkerson M.D., “Medicine for Mountaineering”, Expedition, September 1992:134
iii