Access Fund Vertical Times Denali

[joe_catellani]

here's an opportunity to give feedback on Denali climbing permits and fees. Mike Gauthier was a climbing ranger at Rainier (and I heard an ok guy) so your comments may actually accomplish something.

III. DENALI RESCUE-COST STUDY

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A study now being completed by the National Park Service at

Denali National Park in Alaska has not received much attention

from climbers - but it should. The study could result in new

and higher climbing fees and mandatory costs to individual

climbers for rescues.

The proposed changes would have a severe effect on the climbing

experience and access to climbing areas at Denali.

Last fall Congress passed a law requiring the Department of the

Interior to study the "suitability and feasibility" of

recovering the costs of high altitude rescues on Mount McKinley

(Denali). The law demands a final report to Congress by August

2001. The study will examine whether climbers should be

required to provide proof of medical insurance prior to being

issued a climbing permit, and whether the current climbing fees

at Denali should be raised.

The Access Fund objected to the passage of this law, authored

by Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK). Murkowski has been trying to

make climbers pay for the costs of their rescues since 1992,

when a record thirteen climbers lost their lives on McKinley

and the National Park Service spent $431,000 on rescues and

body recoveries.

In response to fatalities in 1992, the Park Service made

several changes in climbing policy at Denali: the park began to

charge climbers $150 to attempt Mounts McKinley and Foraker;

climbers were required to register for a permit at least 60

days prior to their visit; and the park started an aggressive

climber education program.

These changes appear to have made a difference. Between 1991

and 1995, the average number of climber rescues per year at

Denali was sixteen. Since 1995, the average dropped to about 11

major search and rescue missions per year, with an average of

two climbing fatalities per year. In 2000, 13 major climber

rescues cost the park $73,137.

In February 2001, the Park Service initiated the rescue cost

recovery study. The Access Fund responded by stating we would

oppose any policy requiring climbers to pay for their rescue

costs, unless it applied equally to all park visitors.

The Access Fund does not suggest that the costs of rescuing

climbers at Denali and elsewhere are insignificant or should be

ignored. However, it is unfair to expect climbers to pay for

rescues and not expect the same from hikers, swimmers, and

people who feed wildlife. Rescues of these types of visitors

cost the Park Service much more than what the agency spends on

climber rescues.

It is official Park Service policy to undertake, if possible,

rescues of visitors in distress. The Access Fund proposes that

if the agency is going to rescue any visitors in distress, the

NPS should find alternatives to reduce rescue costs before

singling out climber rescues. These methods could include:

-Reduction or elimination of administrative (government)

services;

-Allowing visitors to sign a "no rescue" waiver instead of

paying a fee;

-Terminating the $250,000 annual contract for a special,

high-altitude helicopter at Denali.

Climbing program costs at Denali (which includes climber rescue

costs) should be compared to the costs of supporting other

types of recreational uses. The Access Fund will actively

oppose the adoption of new fees, insurance requirements, and

rescue cost recovery efforts for climbers until other

non-discriminatory strategies have been tested and proven

ineffective.

To comment on the Denali rescue cost recovery study, write

Denali National Park, Attn. Mike Gauthier, PO Box 588,

Talkeetna, AK 99676, or email mailto:mike_gauthier@nps.gov.

Also, check the Access Fund web site at http:www.accessfund.org

or the Denali National Park Service site http://www.nps.gov/dena/ for updates on this issue and advice

on how to contact Congress.

 

[Stefan]

I never met you smokin' joe. Don and Natala speak highly of you--in fact I was out last weekend with them on Jordan Peak. I heard you were out skiing.

Anyway, I will respond to the NPS. I know the rescue fees are a result of "lack of funding" from the government. Does anyone know if the Coast Guard charges for rescues? If the Coast Guard charges for rescues (which are A LOT more expensive than mountain rescues) then the federal government should charge for mountain rescues. I do know that the Coast Guard is in a different branch than the NPS. It would be reasonable to make the federal government be fair all the way around in charging or not charging for rescues.

[vegetablebelay]

Stefan,

I don't know you either....oh, wait yes I do- I'll see you this weekend...

I think you are on the right track with the Coast Guard, but I can't absolutely confirm that a fisherman in AK (or his estate) is not being charged for the massive search efforts that may be required for his rescue. I can say for certain that I'm not charged for my local police and fire department - even if my house is burning from extremely negligent causes like when my meth lab blows up, or I fall asleep smoking in bed.

Vegetablebelay

[Alasdair]

No the Coast Guard do not charge for rescues. I had a conversation with a crusty old Coasty last year on this topic. He was outraged that we dont charge climbers on Rainier, and I asked him the question of Coast Guard rescues. To him it is somhow different?????? Not only are they more expensive, they are more often the case of total stupidity by the person getting rescued. I dont beleive for a second that we should be charging for Coast Guard rescues. Like wise we should not be charging for climbing rescues.

[Dru]

Forget Coast Guard rescues, what about when some dumb tourist's kid wanders off at Smith Rocks and has to get rescued from Bird Dung Chimney or incidents like that? Or rescuing snowmobilers who get their sleds buried in an avalanche?

 

[jules]

I just heard from Mike in Talkeetna this morning. He's returning to Mt Rainier Monday, April 23, so if you have input, use email not USPS.

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