Risky Climbers Bring Danger to Highest US Mountain
2021-06-07
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1Park rangers who watch North America's highest mountain say inexperienced and overconfident climbers are taking more risks and endangering themselves and other climbers.
2The rangers suggest many climbers are trying to move up the mountain too fast after having a year off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
3Denali in southern Alaska is 6,190 meters (20,310 feet) above sea level.
4So, climbing it requires a high level of skill.
5Climbers also need to acclimate to high altitudes that is not needed for most mountains in the U.S.
6Acclimation to high altitudes means you slowly permit your body to adapt, or get used to conditions.
7If you don't, you could feel sick.
8Experts at America's Cleveland Clinic say altitude sickness "happens when your body is unable to adapt to a low-pressure, low-oxygen environment..."
9This generally happens at about 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) above sea level.
10The National Park Service recently issued a statement warning that many climbers in the Alaska Range are showing signs of inexperience and overconfidence.
11After reporting no deaths in 2018 and 2019, at least two people have already died on the mountain in 2021.
12Two others were seriously injured, officials said.
13Earlier this month, a skier from the state of Colorado died after falling into a crevasse, or very deep cut in the ice.
14Rangers also reported that a climber from the state of Idaho was killed by a large falling piece of ice.
15The rangers issued their statement after a Canadian climber was seriously injured after falling nearly 305 meters (1,000 feet).
16He was not wearing climbing ropes.
17Other climbers reported the fall.
18People in a helicopter studying mountain ice in the area were able to rescue the man, park officials said.
19"The remoteness and extreme weather in Alaska," the statement said, present extra risks.
20This is true even for climbers who are experienced at altitudes of about 4,000 meters.
21The Park Service statement named several reasons for the increase in injuries and deaths.
22They include extreme tiredness, untested body reactions to high altitudes, quickly changing weather, and not bringing the right equipment.
23In recent years, rangers said they have seen more climbers try to make Denali's summit by climbing the 2,134 meters (7,000 feet) from the final base camp to the top in one day.
24This is nearly impossible to do except for the most experienced climbers.
25Experts suggest that climbers take 17 to 21 days to reach the top of Denali.
26That includes rest days and extra days to wait out extreme weather.
27But rangers say many climbing groups experience something called "summit fever."
28This can happen when climbers are running out of days on their trip.
29So, they take greater risks.
30Officials at Denali describe how summit fever may lead to bad decision-making.
31People often climb the mountain in a group and move up the mountain slowly by reaching several base camps.
32This helps the climbers acclimate to the increase in altitude.
33But some people leave their starting group after reaching the final base camp (at about 4,200 meters).
34They do this because other group members may decide not to climb the summit.
35Some climbers then join other groups or individuals they don't know well.
36And that can lead to problems.
37Sometimes those people get too sick to keep going.
38They sometimes must share sleeping structures, water, and fuel.
39The statement said that "a number of climbing teams have had their own summit..." attempts ruined by the need to care for climbers who have difficulties.
40The statement also reminded climbers that the National Park Service rescues people only when their lives, arms and legs, or eyesight are at risk.
41It said the Park Service has already had to turn down rescue requests this year because they did not meet those conditions.
42The Park Service limits the number of people who can climb Denali to less than 1,500 per year.
43In 2019, 726 people made it to the summit.
44The busiest time for climbing Denali is during May and June.
45Cold weather is a problem in the spring, and storms become more common during the summer.
46I'm Anna Matteo.
1Park rangers who watch North America's highest mountain say inexperienced and overconfident climbers are taking more risks and endangering themselves and other climbers. The rangers suggest many climbers are trying to move up the mountain too fast after having a year off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2Denali in southern Alaska is 6,190 meters (20,310 feet) above sea level. So, climbing it requires a high level of skill. Climbers also need to acclimate to high altitudes that is not needed for most mountains in the U.S. 3Acclimation to high altitudes means you slowly permit your body to adapt, or get used to conditions. If you don't, you could feel sick. 4Experts at America's Cleveland Clinic say altitude sickness "happens when your body is unable to adapt to a low-pressure, low-oxygen environment..." This generally happens at about 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) above sea level. 5The National Park Service recently issued a statement warning that many climbers in the Alaska Range are showing signs of inexperience and overconfidence. 6After reporting no deaths in 2018 and 2019, at least two people have already died on the mountain in 2021. Two others were seriously injured, officials said. 7Earlier this month, a skier from the state of Colorado died after falling into a crevasse, or very deep cut in the ice. Rangers also reported that a climber from the state of Idaho was killed by a large falling piece of ice. 8The rangers issued their statement after a Canadian climber was seriously injured after falling nearly 305 meters (1,000 feet). He was not wearing climbing ropes. Other climbers reported the fall. People in a helicopter studying mountain ice in the area were able to rescue the man, park officials said. 9"The remoteness and extreme weather in Alaska," the statement said, present extra risks. This is true even for climbers who are experienced at altitudes of about 4,000 meters. 10The Park Service statement named several reasons for the increase in injuries and deaths. They include extreme tiredness, untested body reactions to high altitudes, quickly changing weather, and not bringing the right equipment. 11In recent years, rangers said they have seen more climbers try to make Denali's summit by climbing the 2,134 meters (7,000 feet) from the final base camp to the top in one day. This is nearly impossible to do except for the most experienced climbers. 12Experts suggest that climbers take 17 to 21 days to reach the top of Denali. That includes rest days and extra days to wait out extreme weather. 13But rangers say many climbing groups experience something called "summit fever." This can happen when climbers are running out of days on their trip. So, they take greater risks. 14Officials at Denali describe how summit fever may lead to bad decision-making. People often climb the mountain in a group and move up the mountain slowly by reaching several base camps. This helps the climbers acclimate to the increase in altitude. 15But some people leave their starting group after reaching the final base camp (at about 4,200 meters). They do this because other group members may decide not to climb the summit. 16Some climbers then join other groups or individuals they don't know well. And that can lead to problems. Sometimes those people get too sick to keep going. They sometimes must share sleeping structures, water, and fuel. 17The statement said that "a number of climbing teams have had their own summit..." attempts ruined by the need to care for climbers who have difficulties. 18The statement also reminded climbers that the National Park Service rescues people only when their lives, arms and legs, or eyesight are at risk. It said the Park Service has already had to turn down rescue requests this year because they did not meet those conditions. 19The Park Service limits the number of people who can climb Denali to less than 1,500 per year. In 2019, 726 people made it to the summit. 20The busiest time for climbing Denali is during May and June. Cold weather is a problem in the spring, and storms become more common during the summer. 21I'm Anna Matteo. 22Jeffery Collins reported this for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 23______________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25park ranger - n. a person in charge of managing and protecting part of a national park 26overconfident - adj. feeling too sure about something 27acclimate - v. to adapt (someone) to a new temperature, altitude, climate, environment, or situation 28adapt - v. to adapt (someone) to a new temperature, altitude, climate, environment, or situation 29remoteness - n. the state of being far away from other people, houses, cities, etc. 30summit - n. the highest point 31base camp - n. a camp from which mountaineering expeditions set out