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1 March 2006, 13:48

North America`s tallest mountain is getting crowded - too crowded for safety.

Starting next year, the National Park Service will cap the number of climbers allowed on Alaska`s Mount McKinley at 1 500 a year - not too many more than the record 1 340 alpinists who attempted to scale the 6 096m mountain last year.

McKinley, known locally as Denali or "the High One", is required climbing for many of the world`s most serious mountaineers who attempt to reach the summit of the highest peak on each of the seven continents.

About half the climbers who attempt McKinley come from other countries, according to the park service.

It`s too late to restrict this year`s climbing crowd.

"Whatever shows up this year, we will have to deal with. We are not prepared to turn back anybody this year," park ranger Daryl Miller said.

The goal is safety and protecting the mountain, said Kris Fister, spokesperson for Denali National Park and Preserve.

She said all but a handful of climbers are on the mountain during a brief two-month period in May and June, and about 95 percent choose the West Buttress route to reach the top.

"You`ve got a lot of people homing in on one area of the mountain for a short period of time," Fister said.

Since 1903, McKinley has been attempted by 30 049 climbers and just over half have reached the summit. Ninety-five climbers have died trying, including a record 11 in 1992. Two brothers from Ohio died last year.

"It is amazing how the mountain just has gotten busier," Miller said.

The mountain also is popular because it`s easy to get to compared to some others in the world - just a two-hour car ride from Anchorage and a 45-minute flight from Talkeetna to the base camp.

Climbers typically spend 14 to 18 days on the mountain, Miller said. Information - Sapa-AP