Improving weather Monday was welcomed by National Park Service rangers searching for two overdue climbers on Cassin Ridge of Mount McKinley in Denali National Park and Preserve.

The American Marten is a rare North Woods animal that you'll probably never see, save for paw prints in the snow. This brown, bushy-tailed little critter, which looks something like a cross between a mink and a house-cat, was prized for its luxurious fur and darn near trapped to extinction in the United States during the 19th century. Today, despite habitat losses and related problems, the American Marten still inhabits much of its historical range.

A search is under way at Denali National Park and Preserve for two Japanese climbers who failed to descend from Mount McKinley on schedule. Poor weather has been hampering search efforts.