Denali Expedition: Cheese Wizardry

On June 18, 2005 my climbing partner, Brock Rowley, and I will be flying to Alaska for a climbing expedition on North America’s highest mountain, Denali. At 20,320 feet above sea level, Denali is also the highest mountain close to the Artic Circle and is infamous for big glaciers, seriously cold temperatures and nasty weather. Brock and I were members of a 1998 six-man expedition to Denali and reached the summit on that trip. This time around it is just the two of us. We have named our expedition Cheese Wizardry in anticipation of the creative ways we will fit cheese in to our diet during the three-week climb. It also alludes to our climbing abilities (or lack there of). We will attempt a route called the West Rib, but if it isn’t in good condition or if we are too chicken the plan is to shift over to the West Buttress Route, the most popular route on the mountain and the route we took in 1998. There is a chance that we won’t even be able to reach the mountain at all. Low snow pack and warm spring temperatures may close the Kahiltna Glacier to ski plane landing early this season. Without air transportation to the glacier reaching Denali is extremely difficult. If the climbing season ends early this year, plan B is to explore and climb in an area near Denali called the Ruth Gorge. “The Ruth” is an amazing alpine environment with 4,000-foot granite walls. It is often referred to as Yosemite Valley with glaciers. Either way, a fantastic adventure is in the making with many opportunities for stunning photography. Stay tuned for the story and photos later this summer.