Climbing Denali, like any high mountain, is a long journey not only a summit climb. It requires preparation, dedication, commitment. Training is at the center of the journey. Training, for me, started officially in January. Before that, I was lightly training while recovering from my trail running race ankle sprain. Mike Tse, who coached me […]

Such a long and difficult expedition can hardly be done alone. It requires a group of people, close & reliable friends, supported by many others, loved ones, friends and family and a support team, the guides. Success resides in the work of a group and the unconditional support of one another. A few people have […]

Attempting Denali is a long, arduous expedition in extreme temperatures that can easily plummet to -40C in May or even later in the season at high altitude. The weather in unpredictable, and therefore, it requires the right gear to face what nature throws at us. The every day life ‘luxuries’ or what we are made […]

People often ask: Why do you do this, How about the risks, How about the people you love, For what purpose? For me, it is simple, clear and transparent, but for many people it is not, so let me try a simple reply. In its most basic way, in its essence, mountaineering is like any […]

For our last day, Pat has arranged a rental car so we can travel around Anchorage. We rent the most outrageous  pickup truck the 2017 Ford F150, it is simply awesome! Pat has spotted the best hike around Anchorage, flat top mountain a 20. Knitted drive from downtown. We are all getting ready, get out […]

Xav and I get dressed in our running gear and hit the pavement for an 8 km beautiful run & trail in Anchorage. REI has memorial days sale and we simply can’t resist. We also go to AMH and the hoarding marmot, 2 Mountaineering stores in the neighbourhood. In the afternoon I have 3 conf […]

(Featured photo: testing beers before picking one, its a brewery after all, might as well taste the beers!) We drive to Anchorage in the afternoon with Tom who totally messed up our pick up and departure time. He forgot he had to pick us up but in the end it all works out. Anchorage, amazing […]

Visibility has improved and we hear Kai shouting “pack your tent guys focus on your own gear, then on the common gear, we might be flying out soon, they are sending a probe plane to test the visibility and conditions” We are psyched and rush to gather all our stuff. Probe plane lands on the […]

(Click picture below to view Base Camp video blog)