DENALI PARK, Alaska: On Wednesday, October 23 National Park Service staff discovered a massive landslide blocking the Denali Park Road at approximately Mile 37. This site is west of Tattler Creek, on the section of road going up to Sable Pass. The slide, which consists of an estimated 30,000 yards of rock and soil, covers approximately 200 feet of the road in depths of up to 35 feet. The material was released from a point 500 feet above the road, and flowed south below the road. It did not reach Igloo Creek.
Park staff, including the park geologist, made a thorough assessment of the slide yesterday. The road crew will stage equipment and begin operations to clear the slide today. Crews will work seven days a week in order to accomplish as much as possible while the unseasonably mild weather conditions last. The slope is unstable and visitors bicycling or hiking along the park road in this area should stay out of the work zone. Work will continue in the spring as needed.
The Denali Park Road is currently open to Mile 30 (Teklanika Rest Area). The Murie Science and Learning Center is open daily from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm for park information and backcountry permits. Additional park information can be obtained by calling 907-683-9532 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Stay connected with "DenaliNPS" on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and iTunes - links to these social media sites are available at www.nps.gov/dena.
www.nps.gov
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
