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Denali (Mt McKinley) is the highest mountain in North America
and stands at 20,320' (6190M). Denali or 'The
High One' is situated 150 miles (250km) to the north of Anchorage
in the Alaska Range, close to the Arctic Circle. It rises
dramatically above the tundra of the National Park, and dwarfs
the surrounding peaks into insignificance.
Denali
has a well-justified reputation for bad weather, yet the mountain
draws climbers from all over the world. Several hundred people
attempt the climb each year, attracted by its status as one
of the Seven Summits, of which Denali is second only
to Everest in overall difficulty.
In June 2007 Ben took on the challenge of not only climbing
Denali, which alone has been likened to the larger Himalayan
giants, but also traversing the mountain, a feat that
is thought to have not been successfully completed for four
years and only twice in the preceding 9 years.
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Aside
from the weather, the reason for this is in part a factor
of Denali's position on the globe; the difference in the barometric
pressure at northern latitudes affects acclimatization on
Denali and other high arctic mountains. Denali's latitude
is 63° while the latitude of Everest is 27°. On a
typical summit, the Denali climber will be at the equivalent
of 22,000' (6900M), which equates to nearly 4/5th's
of the way up Everest. The phenomenon of lower barometric
pressure at higher elevations is caused by the layers of troposphere
and stratosphere being thinner at the poles.
Any expedition on Denali requires commitment, physical endurance,
altitude acclimatization, tolerance of Arctic cold and storms,
and is an incredible challenge. The demands of the Traverse
accentuate those requirements, and make a summit via the standard
West Buttress route seem relatively straight forward. On the
traverse there is no 'pyramiding' of food, fuel and supplies,
as everything is needed for the decent on the remote and dangerous
north side of the mountain. Therefore, everything is carried
up and over the mountain and the expedition is truly self
sufficient and isolated.
The traverse ascends the mountain via standard West Buttress
route and descends via the Muldrow Glacier route on the other
side. Once off the mountain the expedition then involves trekking
and bushwhacking 25miles out to Wonder Lake (Grizzly Bear
country), with the final obstacle a mile wide section of the
McKinley river being negotiated by wading through the ice
cold glacial waters – all with packs weighing anything
up to a backbreaking 100lbs!
Ben, and only 7 other remaining
team members, successfully summited and traversed Denali in
2007, enduring some of the worst conditions seen on the North
Side of the mountain, and escaping one very real deadly situation
on the Muldrow Glacier.
Their summit, traverse and safe return home made them the
only team in 2007, the first in 4 years and only the third
in 10 years to achieve this goal.
"It was a massive achievement for us all,
and one I'm increasingly proud of".
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