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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Denali links

Doug sent me some cool links today -- thanks Doug! :)

This photo is of the West Buttress route up Denali. The West Butt is the easiest and the most climbed route on the mountain. Still, the success rate is only about 50 percent. Talkeetna Air will drop us off on the glacier near Base Camp. Our team leader, my friend Bob who summitted Denali in 2004, reports the flight through One-Shot Pass to be one of the scariest aspects of the whole endeavor.

A couple of inspirational photos here and here. Here are the upper route and the final push to the summit. This weather link may be scariest of all. (O_O)

For an idea of our basic itinerary and a list of ALL the stuff (yikes) each of us needs to carry, check out the Mountain Madness site. (As mentioned in a previous post, however, we are on our own, not with a guide company.) Too bad there are no Sherpas in Alaska...

8 comments:

  1. Jamie AndersonMay 6, 2008 at 5:05 PM

    Best wishes, Sue! You must be so pumped. Can't wait to hear about it. Be safe!

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  2. Doug McKeeverMay 6, 2008 at 10:57 PM

    Sherpas? You don't need no Sherpas. Just remember, when climmin, the best strategy is to take a pack a wee bit smaller than the largest available, and don't use compression sacks for everything. Then at Base Camp when it comes time to load up, you just say, "gee whiz, guys, as you can see, MY pack is crammed already! I just CAN'T take the Chianti!" Oops, I just spilled the secret....

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  3. Steve PeroMay 7, 2008 at 8:27 AM

    Good luck, Sue! Hope you can "Git 'er Dun!

    Steve

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  4. Aaron KMay 7, 2008 at 11:47 AM

    So jealous! Hope everything is great on your end! Cheers, Aaron

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  5. AnonymousMay 7, 2008 at 12:10 PM

    Wow Sue what an incredible adventure. You must have that cool energy that leaves you scared to death and excited as hell at the same time. Be careful up there and have a blast.
    Godspeed to you.

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  6. I am a runner. "We are what we repeatedly do"May 8, 2008 at 5:06 PM

    Looks like great fun Sue!!! When are you heading north??? Just remember it can't be any worse than the death run from Monadnock to Sunapee in late April when underdressed and without lights!! Good luck ad hope to see you sometime soon. Go to Hardrock and pace me if I get in!

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  7. OlgaMay 9, 2008 at 9:37 AM

    When, Sue, when?? Exciting!

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  8. AnonymousMay 12, 2008 at 11:46 PM

    Good Luck to you Sue and be careful. Come back to the lower 48 safe and sound.

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