Mountaineering
Climbing Denali (Mt. McKinley), Mt. Foraker, or the park's other peaks is a thrilling challenge.
Plan Around Mountaineering
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Mountaineering Details
Climbing Denali (Mt. McKinley), Mt. Foraker, or the park's other Alaska Range peaks is the thrill of a lifetime, but success and survival in this harsh environment requires careful planning, preparation, and expertise. As experts note, this is an expedition, not a hike or climb. Denali is 20,237 feet high, the tallest peak in North America. Summiting Denali is a feat accomplished by few people, and the routes to the South Peak are anything but easy. Avalanches, earthquakes, glaciers, icefalls, crevasses, unpredictable weather, wind, freezing Arctic temperatures, and high altitude are just some of the hazards faced by climbers. The first man to stand on the summit of Denali was Alaskan Native Walter Harper, on June 7, 1913. If you attempt the climb, be heartened that 58 percent of those who try, succeed. But take this mountain seriously: more than 100 climbers have died in the attempt. Most climbs take two to four weeks. Authorized Denali mountaineering guides include: Alaska Mountaineering School P.O. Box 566 Talkeetna, AK 99676 Phone: (907) 733-1016 Fax: (907) 733-1362 www.climbalaska.org Alpine Ascents International 109 W. Mercer St. Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: (206) 378-1927 Fax: (206) 378-1937 www.alpineascents.com American Alpine Institute 1515 12th Street Bellingham, WA 98825 Phone: (360) 671-1505 Fax: (360) 734-8890 www.alpineinstitute.com Mountain Trip International, LLC P.O. Box 658 Ophir, Colorado 81426 Phone: (970)369-1153 Fax: (303) 496-0998 www.mountaintrip.com N.O.L.S. P.O. Box 981 Palmer, AK 99645 Phone: (907) 745-4047 Fax: (907) 745-6069 www.nols.edu Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. P.O. Box Q Ashford, WA 98304 Phone: (360) 569-2227 Fax: (360) 569-2982 www.rmiguides.com All Denali climbing expeditions are coordinated through the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station.
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
Activities
Nearby Parks Around Mountaineering
Compare nearby parks around Mountaineering when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Mountaineering
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Mountaineering while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Jessie Benton Fremont
An early advocate of the Park, without her work behind the scenes, Yosemite might not exist today.
0.0 mi away
ZERO LANDFILL IN THE PARKS:
THE YOSEMITE, GRAND TETON AND DENALI PROGRAM
0.0 mi away
30-Minute Helicopter Ride
Fly rim-to-rim in a half-hour.
0.0 mi away
50-Minute Airplane Tour
The ultimate Canyon airplane tour.
0.0 mi away
50-Minute Helicopter Tour
Offering aerial tours of the North and South Rims as well as the Grand Canyon's East Rim.
