Denali mountaineering volunteers get national award

TALKEETNA -- The work isn't glamorous. Denali mountaineering volunteers do everything from shepherding people suffering from altitude sickness to policing illegal dumping of trash or human waste on Mount McKinley.

It's dangerous, too, when the volunteers accompany National Park Service rangers to rescue someone.

But the program's importance was recognized Friday by Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, who presented the volunteers with one of 15 national Take Pride in America awards. NPS mountaineering ranger Meg Perdue and volunteer Dahr Jamail of Anchorage were in Washington, D.C., to accept the award.

Mountaineering ranger Roger Robinson, who coordinates the volunteers, said they play a critical role in keeping Mount McKinley as safe as possible for climbers. They occasionally must risk their own lives to do so, he said.

"We end up with probably 25 to 30 volunteers a season," Robinson said. "They are often helping out for a month or more. It's a tremendous commitment."

There is no shortage of candidates, though. The volunteer spots are prized by top climbers throughout the U.S. and some foreign countries. Only a few Alaskans are involved, Miller said.

Sometimes NPS rangers contact friends to see if they're interested. Often, climbers learn about the program during their first trip to Mount McKinley and ask to get involved in the future.

"It's primarily word of mouth," Robinson said.

Those who sign up aren't interested in reaching the summit. Their motivation is to help others get up and down in one piece, and minimize negative impacts to the mountain.

"A lot of physicians want to take part," Robinson said. "They have to have a fair amount of experience to be up on the mountain. They need to be very well-rounded mountaineers."

Volunteers are needed during the climbing season from the end of April to early July. They must commit at least 31 days of service.

"These volunteers have helped to protect, defend and restore our nation's natural and cultural treasures," Norton said during an awards ceremony. "They give all of us an example of what it means to be good stewards of our lands and history."

NPS spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin said there were 41 Denali mountaineering volunteers during the past season, including the ones on McKinley and others who served elsewhere in the park, such as the Ruth Amphitheater. Collectively, they worked more than 6,500 hours.

Daryl Miller, south district ranger, nominated the program for the Take Pride in America awards, which are made annually to individuals and groups.

McLaughlin noted that Denali mountaineering volunteers not only put themselves in jeopardy to help others, but they also forego some everyday pleasures during their stints on the mountain.

"They all go out and eat steak when they get back," she said.