Denali

[LTbear]

Who on here has reached the summit? Who has tried? Got any stories/ photos/ life-aultering realizations to share with the rest of us?

[Floyd]

There was a 14ers.com gathering of sorts up there last summer - http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6118&parmuser=Kiefer&cpgm=tripuser

[LTbear]

That's awesome. I'll have to read through it tonight after teaching my last lab for the day.

Denali has always been a big-time goal of mine, before I had even scaled anything 12,000 feet high.

[RoanMtnMan]

6 storm bound days at 17,000 for me back in 2002. It was a self supported hillbilly style expedition.

Going back this spring in style.

http://www.wildsnow.com/2129/climb-ski-denali-mckinley/

[jbchalk]

Very similar to Caleb's self-supported hillbilly expedition (except for the weather, sorry buddy), we climbed the Big D unguided in June 2007 in 12 days roundtrip.

[RoanMtnMan]

Very similar to Caleb's self-supported hillbilly expedition (except for the weather, sorry buddy), we climbed the Big D unguided in June 2007 in 12 days roundtrip.

You and your weather luck man. Kills me.

[jbchalk]

Very similar to Caleb's self-supported hillbilly expedition (except for the weather, sorry buddy), we climbed the Big D unguided in June 2007 in 12 days roundtrip.

You and your weather luck man. Kills me.

Hope it doesnt run out before next year buddy

[RoanMtnMan]

Hope it doesnt run out before next year buddy

Me too, but if I does, I guess I'll be headed to Everest with you in 2011?

[jbchalk]

Vinson first, bud I think we'll have good luck this coming spring with the weather on Everest and Denali.

[sgladbach]

Very similar to Caleb's self-supported hillbilly expedition (except for the weather, sorry buddy), we climbed the Big D unguided in June 2007 in 12 days roundtrip.

You and your weather luck man. Kills me.

This part of the discussion highlights a point that you'll soon discover if you investigate Denali. It has brutal storms that are make-or-break for summit success. You'll find many accopmlished mountaineers who were foiled by this peak and many mediocre (or even guided novices) who had success. You can only take so much gear to high camp with you and often climbers run through those supplies while waiting through a storm for their summit bid.

Success on Denali is dependent on good planning, careful execution of that plan, and pure dumb luck. All three need to come together.

[cheeseburglar]

You'll find many accopmlished mountaineers who were foiled by this peak and many mediocre (or even guided novices) who had success.

That is definately correct. The weakest member of rope team nacho (me) made it last spring, while two of our studs didn't. Fortunately the rest of the group was strong enough to drag my sorry butt off that hill.
I think the mountain gods of the weather liked our blow up doll.

[LongLiveTheHuskers]

I think the mountain gods of the weather liked our blow up doll.

Thats f*cking awesome.

[wonderwi]

My luck on Denali was terrible. Three attempts and zero summits.
Weather, illness and frostbite. All 3 suck on this mountain. Mother
Nature rules with a big stick.

[LTbear]

You'll find many accopmlished mountaineers who were foiled by this peak and many mediocre (or even guided novices) who had success.

That is definately correct. The weakest member of rope team nacho (me) made it last spring, while two of our studs didn't. Fortunately the rest of the group was strong enough to drag my sorry butt off that hill.
I think the mountain gods of the weather liked our blow up doll.

[Haliku]

CB - You earned your summit. I don't recall anyone carrying you one direction or the other. Though at times it would of been nice to just get in the sled and head quickly downhill...

That is definately correct. The weakest member of rope team nacho (me) made it last spring, while two of our studs didn't. Fortunately the rest of the group was strong enough to drag my sorry butt off that hill.
I think the mountain gods of the weather liked our blow up doll.