NPS Photo

1. Mountaineers attempting a climb of Mt. McKinley or Mt. Foraker must register with the Talkeetna Ranger Station at least 60 days prior to their start date. Denali National Park and Preserve offers online climbing registration and deposit payment for mountaineers paying with a credit card. For the easy electronic form and payment system, go to Pay.Gov's online climbing registration form after October 1 to register for the 2010 climbing season. (Note that Pay.Gov will reject registration forms submitted prior to October 1!) Once the form and payment are correctly submitted, registrants will immediately receive a confirmation code.

For groups who do not wish to register online, a pdf version of the registration form is available, or climbers can fill out online form electronically, then print a hardcopy.  The expedition leader is responsible for compiling the registration forms and deposits for all expedition members and mailing or faxing them to the Talkeetna Ranger Station.   

Mountaineers that have climbed Mt. McKinley or Mt. Foraker since 1995 can request a "seven-day rule" exemption to the 60-day pre-registration period and instead register only 7 days in advance of the climb. Individuals seeking registration under the "seven-day rule" must be on record at the Talkeetna Ranger Station as climbing in or after 1995. This rule is applied on an individual basis -- in order for the entire expedition to be eligible for the seven-day exemption, all members must qualify.

ALL soloists must also complete the solo form and submit it at the same time they mail or fax in their registration form and deposit. Soloists will not be considered 'pre-registered' until we receive the completed solo form.

Registration requirements are strictly enforced. CLIMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THEIR FORM(S) HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN TIME FOR THEIR DESIRED START DATE. The online Pay.Gov registration system is highly recommended as climbers receive an immediate confirmation of receipt. If submitting forms manually, a phone call or email to verify your expedition's forms have been received is highly suggested!

2. A Mountaineering Special Use Fee of $200 U.S. currency plus park entrance fee will be charged to each expedition member attempting Mt. McKinley or Mt. Foraker. This fee is paid in two installments as follows:

DEPOSIT: A non-refundable and non-transferable deposit of $25 U.S. currency is due when you submit your completed registration form. The easiest method of deposit payment is using our online registration system, which accepts credit card payment by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and others. Money orders and cashier's checks are also acceptable methods of payment. Personal checks will not be accepted.

BALANCE: The remaining balance of $175 U.S. currency plus park entrance fee is due when you check in at the Talkeetna Ranger Station. Payment for the remaining balance may be made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, money order, or US currency. Personal checks will not be accepted as payment. Credit card payment is preferred.

NPS Photo

3. All registered climbers are required to check in and out at the Talkeetna Ranger Station, including expeditions originating on the north side of the Alaska Range.  Appointments are now required for all Mt. McKinley or Mt. Foraker expedition orientations.  Teams should contact the Talkeetna Ranger Station as soon as practical to schedule an appointment as they fill up fast. Appointments are available from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, seven days a week. Expeditions should arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time to pay the special use and park entrance fees. Climbers must provide photo identification upon check-in.

4. Expeditions are permitted to add one new member to their expedition. This new member must pay the $25 deposit and register at least 30 days prior to the start date of the expedition.

5. If you plan to use a guide service, make certain that the service is authorized by Denali National Park and Preserve. Illegal guiding is prohibited and your climb could be canceled at any time.

6. Read the National Park Service publication, Mountaineering - Denali National Park and Preserve, which covers search and rescue requirements, clean climbing requirements, high altitude medical problems, glacier hazards, and self-sufficiency. You should have a solid understanding of the potentially serious medical problems and the extreme mental and physical stresses associated with high altitude mountaineering.