National Park News

Fire Management staff at Denali National Park and Preserve will burn piles of debris in Kantishna, at the western end of the Denali Park Road, beginning late evening on Monday, September 19 and continuing through Friday, September 23, conditions permitting. The debris pile is located in a gravel pit near the junction of Eureka Creek and the park road.

The busy summer season has ended at Denali National Park and Preserve, and visitors can now drive private vehicles on the Denali Park Road as far as the Teklanika River Rest Area at Mile 30, weather permitting. Visitors are advised to call ahead for weather and road information, as conditions can change rapidly at this time of the year.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) for the allocation of climbing permits between commercial guided climbing operators and independent, non-guided climbers on Mount McKinley is now available for public review and comment, announced Superintendent Paul R. Anderson.

Denali National Park and Preserve recently concluded a multi-year public engagement process regarding a proposed increase to the Special Use Fee that directly supports management of climbing activities on Mt. McKinley and Mt. Foraker. After a lengthy examination of current program costs, analysis of public comment, and collaboration with national climbing organizations, Denali National Park and Preserve will increase its Mountaineering Use Fee from $200 to $250 for youth ages 24 and under, and $350 for all other Mount McKinley and Mt. Foraker climbers. The fee increase will go into effect for the 2012 mountaineering season. In future years, fees will be adjusted periodically based on actual costs, not to exceed changes in the cumulative consumer price index.

In response to numerous requests, the National Park Service is extending the public comment period for the Draft Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) through Monday, October 31, 2011. The extension will ensure that the public has adequate time to comment on the draft alternatives for managing vehicle use on the 92 mile long Denali Park Road for the next 15-20 years.

Denali National Park and Preserve is seeking applications from visual artists and, for the first time, writers for the 2012 Artist-in-Residence Program.

Fire Management staff at Denali National Park and Preserve will burn piles of debris consisting of trees and brush in the vicinity of the new Birch Creek Cabin beginning Monday, August 22, continuing through Thursday, August 25, conditions permitting.

The National Park Service is holding three meetings on the Draft Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan, which is available for review and comment through September 30, 2011. The draft plan describes two action alternatives and a no action alternative for managing vehicle use on the 92-mile Denali Park Road for the next 15-20 years.

Fire Management staff at Denali National Park and Preserve will burn piles of debris consisting of trees and brush in the vicinity of the Moose Creek and Thorofare patrol cabins beginning Saturday, August 13, continuing through Wednesday, August 17, conditions permitting.

The Draft Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be available for public review and comment beginning Monday, August 1, announced Superintendent Paul Anderson. The draft plan describes two action alternatives and a no action alternative for managing vehicle use on the 92 mile long Denali Park Road for the next 15-20 years.

National Park Service to Issue Subsistence Permits in Cantwell

The Eielson Visitor Center, located on Mile 66 on the Denali Park Road, will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 16. The building had been closed for maintenance since Wednesday, July 13 after a malfunction of the sewage system was discovered on Tuesday, July 12.

The Eielson Visitor Center, located on Mile 66 on the Denali Park Road, will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 16. The building had been closed for maintenance since Wednesday, July 13 after a malfunction of the sewage system was discovered on Tuesday, July 12.

The Eielson Visitor Center, located on Mile 66 on the Denali Park Road, will be closed for an estimated 3-4 days so that a contractor can fix the sewage system. The anticipated opening date is Monday, July 18.

The Eielson Visitor Center, located on Mile 66 on the Denali Park Road, will be closed for an estimated 3-4 days so that a contractor can fix the sewage system. The anticipated opening date is Monday, July 18.

The Eielson Visitor Center, located on Mile 66 on the Denali Park Road, will be closed all day on Wednesday, July 13 so that subject matter experts can assess a malfunction of the sewage system. Park managers will determine when the visitor center will reopen when that assessment is complete.

The Eielson Visitor Center, located on Mile 66 on the Denali Park Road, will be closed all day on Wednesday, July 13 so that subject matter experts can assess a malfunction of the sewage system. Park managers will determine when the visitor center will reopen when that assessment is complete.

The search for solo Austrian climber Juergen Kanzian concluded Thursday evening, June 30 after NPS mountaineering rangers at the 14,200-foot camp located the climber’s body using a high powered spotting scope.

The search for solo Austrian climber Juergen Kanzian concluded Thursday evening, June 30 after NPS mountaineering rangers at the 14,200-foot camp located the climber’s body using a high powered spotting scope.

Denali National Park and Preserve officials initiated an aerial and ground search on June 29 for an overdue solo climber on Mt. McKinley.

Denali National Park and Preserve officials initiated an aerial and ground search on June 29 for an overdue solo climber on Mt. McKinley.

The two female hikers who were the focus of an air and ground search effort in the rugged terrain surrounding Mt. Healy, were located by an Air National Guard Pavehawk helicopter around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 23 approximately five miles north of Mt. Healy.

The two female hikers who were the focus of an air and ground search effort in the rugged terrain surrounding Mt. Healy, were located by an Air National Guard Pavehawk helicopter around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 23 approximately five miles north of Mt. Healy.

A climber died of an apparent cardiac arrest at the 17,200-foot high camp on Mt. McKinley Friday morning, June 10.

A climber died of an apparent cardiac arrest at the 17,200-foot high camp on Mt. McKinley Friday morning, June 10.

Three separate climbers, each of whom was suffering from severe altitude-related illness, were rescued using helicopter shorthaul technique from approximately 19,000 feet on Mt. McKinley on Monday night, June 6.

Three separate climbers, each of whom was suffering from severe altitude-related illness, were rescued using helicopter shorthaul technique from approximately 19,000 feet on Mt. McKinley on Monday night, June 6.

The National Park Service has modified this year’s road lottery entry procedures, based on concerns expressed by members of the public. It will now be possible to make entries by phone and by mail, in addition to making them online. The 2011 annual road lottery in Denali National Park and Preserve will take place on September 16, 17, 18, and 19 (Friday through Monday), weather permitting.

The National Park Service has modified this year’s road lottery entry procedures, based on concerns expressed by members of the public. It will now be possible to make entries by phone and by mail, in addition to making them online. The 2011 annual road lottery in Denali National Park and Preserve will take place on September 16, 17, 18, and 19 (Friday through Monday), weather permitting.

The public is invited to hike the Triple Lakes Trail, one of Denali’s newest and most scenic trails on Saturday, June 4, as part of the park’s celebration of National Trails Day.