Colorado climber suffering from frostbite evacuated from Mount McKinley

TALKEETNA (AP) -- A climber was evacuated from Mount McKinley Sunday after suffering frostbite to one of his feet.

Officials with the National Park Service said Ron Morrow, 51, of Denver appeared exhausted and unsteady as he transported gear to the 16,000-foot level of the mountain during the weekend. After returning to the camp at 14,200 feet, Morrow reported he had no feeling in his right foot.

Rangers treated him for frostbite, but after his foot thawed he was unable to walk. With weather conditions worsening on the mountain, rangers feared Morrow might get weathered in at the 14,000-foot level. The Park Service's high-altitude helicopter was summoned to transport Morrow to the base camp at 7,000 feet. He was flown off the mountain by a local air taxi service.

Park officials said Morrow would be treated by a frostbite specialist in Anchorage.

About 1,300 people have registered to climb Mount McKinley this summer. At 20,320 feet, McKinley is the tallest peak in North America.

Currently there are about 485 people making their way up the mountain. Since the climbing season began earlier this month, 19 people have reached the summit.