The American Alpine Institute just received the following email from the Access Fund:

Denali National Park proposes to raise mountaineering fees 150% from $200 to $500 per climber. As part of the public involvement process prior to making a decision, the National Park Service is hosting two open houses in January to provide information on Denali’s mountaineering program and how the special mountaineering fee is used.

Representatives from the Access Fund, American Alpine Club, and American Mountain Guides Association are concerned that the 150% mountaineering fee increase at Denali is unnecessary and unfair, and are looking for ways to cut mountaineering program costs and generate alternative sources of revenue to limit a dramatic fee increase. In these tough economic times, such an unprecedented mountaineering fee increase may price Americans out of their own National Parks, including the world-class climbing on Denali.

Now is the time to learn more about how this proposed fee increase affects you. Attend an upcoming National Park Service open house in your area and voice your opinions:

Seattle, WA
Monday, January 17 - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
REI Flagship Store,
222 Yale Ave. N
Seattle, Washington

Golden, CO
Tuesday, January 18 - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
American Mountaineering Center
710 10th St.
Golden, Colorado

Denali National Park staff will give one 30-40 minute presentation on the mountaineering program and fee at each open house. The park states that “official public testimony will not be taken,” but staff will be available before and after the presentation to provide information and answer questions.

The NPS is seeking input and ideas regarding two key questions:

1) Is the current mountaineering program the most cost effective, efficient and safe program we can devise?

2) How much of the cost should be recovered from users, and what options are there for how those costs can be distributed?

We hope to see you there, making your voice heard!

Thanks,

Your Friends at the Access Fund

As you know, we have been covering this for some time.  To learn more about this fee increase and what you can do about it, click here.

Jason D. Martin