Climbing Mount McKinley will get next year, as the National Park Service increases expedition permits in an effort to better fund search and rescue missions on the mountain. The NPS $50 more per permit for climbers under age 24, pushing the total cost to $250, and will charge older climbers $350. Permits were first introduced for $150 in 1995, then jumped to $200 in 2005. The service is looking to offset search-and-rescue costs, including safety education for climbers, a program that some estimates indicate have cut deaths on the mountain in half. Stagnant permit income has created in a under current prices. Park officials introduced the age-graded pricing structure to keep McKinley accessible for young climbers. At 20,320 feet, McKinley is the highest peak in North America.
Read more at
听
听