[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 240 (Thursday, December 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30839]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

 

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice--Mountaineering Program.

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SUMMARY: A new Mountaineering Program will be put in place for the 1995 
climbing season in Denali National Park and Preserve. The 
mountaineering program will include a 60-Day Pre-Registration 
requirement for climbers on Mount McKinley and Mount Foraker and a 
mountaineering program fee. Mountaineering in the park has increased 
dramatically over the last 10 years, with the number of Mount McKinley 
climbers increasing from 695 in 1984 to 1,277 in 1994. Climbing related 
injuries and deaths have correspondingly increased. By requiring 
advance registration, the Denali park staff will be able to provide 
information to prospective mountaineers in advance of their climb. This 
may include information on the specific dangers they may face, other 
safety related issues, how to prepare and equip, and requirements 
concerning resource protection issues such as litter removal and human 
waste disposal. The 60-Day pre-registration requirement is a regulatory 
issue and is being addressed through an interim rulemaking. As part of 
the interim rulemaking process, the National Park Service (NPS) will be 
soliciting comments and will review comments and consider making 
changes to the rule based upon an analysis of comments.
    The fee to be charged--$150 per climber--will help offset 
mountaineering administrative costs associated with prepositioning and 
maintaining the high-altitude ranger camp at 14,200 feet on the West 
Buttress route, mountaineering patrol salaries, education materials 
aimed at reducing the number of accidents, transportation and supplies. 
The cost of administering the international mountaineering program 
(climbers represented 23 countries in 1994) has increased over the past 
several years and consumes a disproportionate amount of the park 
budget.
    The program has three major components:
    1. Sixty-Day Pre-Registration: Climbers on McKinley and Foraker 
will be required to register a minimum of 60 days in advance of their 
climb. By requiring advance registration, the Denali staff will be able 
to provide information to prospective mountaineers on the dangers they 
may face, how to prepare and equip, and to discuss requirements 
concerning resource issues such as littering and human waste disposal. 
Currently, climbers are required to register, but may do so as late as 
the day they depart for the mountain. The National Park Service will be 
revising the regulations to implement this requirement.
    2. Preventative SAR/Education: Written and visual orientation 
materials will be improved to better prepare mountaineers for a sub-
arctic mountaineering experience. Mountaineers from outside the United 
States account for a disproportionate number of rescues. With 20 to 30 
countries represented each season, written and voice-mail materials 
eventually will be prepared in eight languages.
    3. Climbing Special Use Permit Fee: The $150 per climber fee is 
expected to generate about $180,000 per year (1,200 climbers x $150). 
Expenditures will include ranger and support salaries while doing 
mountaineering-related work, improved educational presentations and 
materials, logistical support and patrol supplies (such as that used at 
the 14,200-foot camp on the West Buttress). The fee will neither cover 
the lease of the high-altitude helicopter (about $240,000 per year), 
nor will it be used to offset expenses incurred in rescues (anywhere 
from $70,000 to $200,000 per year).
    The move to a fee program does not change Denali park's existing 
rescue policy which states:

    Denali National Park and Preserve recognizes that a certain 
number of park visitors each year will become ill, injured, or 
incapacitated in some way. It is the policy of Denali National Park 
and Preserve to assist those in need when, in the opinion of the 
park personnel apprised of the situation, it is necessary, 
appropriate, within the reasonable skill and technical capability of 
park personnel and provides searchers and rescuers with a reasonable 
margin of safety.

    The NPS will continue to make reasonable efforts to provide, 
subject to existing conditions and the availability of personnel and 
equipment, search and rescue operations. Further, the level and 
exigency of the response is determined by field personnel based on 
their evaluation of the situation. Denali National Park and Preserve 
expects park users, specifically individuals who undertake 
mountaineering activities, to exhibit a degree of self-reliance and 
responsibility for their own safety commensurate with the degree of 
difficulty of the activities they undertake.
James M. Brady,
Chief, Ranger Activities Division.
[FR Doc. 94-30839 Filed 12-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 4310-70-P