Mount McKinley

This was an epic climb lasting 25 days. There were seven in our team. One member got HAPE at the 11,000-foot camp. He felt immediately better upon descending a couple thousand feet, but still decided to abandon the climb.

Our team was delayed at the 14,200-foot Basin camp for 12 long days because the weather above was too brutal to ascend.

Ultimately, five of the seven of us summited. I made the summit bid with one other of my teammates on 12 June 2007 from a bivouac at about 16,500 feet on a ledge on the West Buttress ridge. It is recommended that you do not camp there, but we were forced to when bad weather prevented us from going to the 17,200-foot high camp.

Going slow and steady with a bit tenacity will get you to the top!