Economy Decreases Number of McKinley climbers even as percentage of succesful climbs increases

The National Park Service reports there are 1,148 registered climbers on McKinley (compared to 1,161 last year and 1,272 in 2008). The success rate before 2008 was 51.7 percent. In the last two years the rate was 59 percent although better weather is believed to have contributed. The climbers in the past were 60 percent American. It is now 50-50 with Polish being the single largest contingent of foreigners. Officials says a contributing factor is that the McKinley booklet is now in Polish.