Rescue teams attempt to reach 2 hypothermic climbers stranded near Denali summit

Several rescue agencies were working Wednesday to reach two climbers stranded for more than a day near the summit of Denali, after rescuing three other climbers suffering from severe frostbite.

Denali National Park and Preserve spokesman Paul Ollig said Wednesday afternoon that the two climbers were on a flat spot on the mountain called the “football field,” at an elevation of 19,600 feet.

According to a park release, a team of three climbers atop the 20,310-foot peak sent an SOS signal from an InReach satellite device around 1 a.m. Tuesday, indicating they were hypothermic and unable to descend.

“The Rangers maintained two-way communication with the team until approximately 3:30 a.m., when the team sent a text message indicating that they planned to go down to the 'football field,'” park officials said in the press release. “The Rangers have not heard back from the team following this transmission, nor has the location of the device changed.”

The Alaska Air National Guard was called to assist in the search Tuesday morning, due to cloud cover preventing the park's high-altitude helicopter from reaching the mountain. An HC-130 search plane crew spotted two of the climbers between 19,000 and 20,000 feet, with a guide on the mountain finding the third climber near Zebra Rocks at 18,600 feet.

Two other climbers suffering from frostbite were being treated by members of the Park Service patrol at the mountain's 14,200-foot camp, according to the park. The helicopter crew attempted to reach the climbers around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, but landed at the camp and rescued the two climbers there. Both were airlifted to Talkeetna, with one transferred to a LifeMed air ambulance for further care.

The Park Service helicopter attempted a second time to reach the peaks Tuesday at 9 p.m., but was unsuccessful.

“By this time, one of the three climbers had descended to the camp at 17,200 feet, suffering from severe frostbite and hypothermia,” park officials said. “A guided team initially assisted the patient until care was transferred to an NPS ground team who had ascended to the altitude camp from 14,200 feet to support the rescue effort.”

This climber was airlifted to Talkeetna around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday evening and was also transferred to LifeMed, according to the release.

“During this time, an experienced high mountain expedition guide had spent considerable time assisting and providing care to the two non-ambulatory climbers on the Football Field (19,600 feet),” park officials wrote . “However, when the clouds returned on Tuesday evening, the guide was forced to return to the camp at 17,200 feet above sea level for his own safety and that of his team.”

Crews were waiting for another break in the weather on Wednesday to try again to reach the stranded climbers.

Ollig said Wednesday afternoon that details were still emerging about how the two groups of climbers ended up in distress, as well as the state the stranded climbers were in when the guide left them Tuesday.

He also said high-altitude flight problems further hampered rescue efforts of summit participants on Tuesday, noting that the helicopter was equipped with a short-range rescue basket when trying to reach the ” football field “.

“Due to weight restrictions, we cannot do a short trip at such a high altitude with an observer or ranger at the end of the line,” he said. “Patients must therefore either be ambulatory or benefit from assistance in the field. »

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.