Data were extracted from Accidents in North American Mountaineering journal and an internet search of National Park Service websites and were analyzed using the proportional Z test and chi square method. All of the data collected were public record; all HIPPA information was removed from the extracted data.
Results.-From 1977 to 1986, 103 incidents were identified, and from 1997 to 2006, 98 incidents were sustained by climbers on Mount McKinley. In spite of increased climbing rates, the overall injury rate declined between the compared periods, (103 vs. 98; p Ο½ 0.05). There was a significant decrease in the rate of falls on snow/ice/rock (0. 23%; p Ο½ 0.05), altitude medical sickness/high altitude pulmonary edema/cerebral edema (0.26%; p Ο½ 0.05) and environmental injuries (0.35%; p Ο½ 0.05), and fatal accidents on Mount McKinley between the compared time frames (20 vs. 9; p Ο½ 0.05). The incidence of falling snow, rock, and ice increased between the compared timeframes (0.041; p Ο½ 0.05). In spite of increased climbing rates the injury declined 0.9% between periods. There were no significant differences found in other injury patterns.
Conclusions.-With the ever-increasing popularity of mountaineering and ice climbing on Mount McKinley, one would expect to see a corresponding increase in overall injuries and incidents sustained on Mount McKinley to coincide with this increased number of climbers. The data available to this study actually revealed a decrease in overall accidents accompanied by a significant decrease in fatalities sustained by climbers. The decrease in the overall rate of injuries and fatalities likely reflects an increased awareness of the hazards facing climbers, enhancements in climbing technology, and improved technical ability of climbers attempting the summit of Mount McKinley. Increasing rates of falling snow, rock, and ice may be influenced by exposure of increasing number of climbers on Mount McKinley and the global effects of climate change.
However, this also exposes an area on which wilderness providers may want to focus future prevention and education efforts.