Denali is the highest peak in North America at 6,168m.  The West Buttress (WB) is a moderately technical route involving extensive glacier travel, climbing steep-exposed snow slopes, narrow exposed ridges and extreme cold weather climbing and camping.  A minimum of approximately 2 weeks are required on the mountain with an additional 3-4 days at the start/end depending on logistics and weather while climbing.  

Required skills:

• highest level of physical and mental fitness for strenuous high altitude climbing, extreme weather conditions (extremely cold, windy and high likelihood of multiple snow storms) and high altitude climbing
• advanced technical proficiency in glacier travel, mountaineering (French alpine grade: TD; very difficult grade due to exposure at high elevation and extreme cold)
• all alpine/mountaineering skills are required, including/especially:
• • glacier travel, including crevasse rescue (all team members will have to demonstrate proficiency during screening-training outings/practice; BCMC or reputable mountain school glacier travel crevasse rescue course strongly recommended but cannot be substitute for extensive practice)
  • avalanche terrain/hazard skills/training: BCMC or reputable mountain school AST-1 training strongly recommended (all team members will have to demonstrate proficiency during screening-training outings/practice)
  • roped alpine climbing on steep snow/glacier slopes and exposed alpine ridges (traditional climbing rope/knot skills and skills such as self-arrest, snow and ice protection/anchors, moving up and down fixed lines, running belays) (all team members will have to demonstrate proficiency during screening-training outings/practice)  Note: depending on the team make-up we will either AT ski ascend/descend to/from 14k camp (preferred) or allow for separate AT and snowshoe roped sub-teams.
  • Winter / alpine camping for a prolonged period of time - including the mental challenge of not getting bored when pinned down by weather
  • Teamwork and positive attitude with a strong emphasis on ONE team.  Will be a focus of screening process, which will include training climbs and practice sessions.

Gear List: will be provided and finalized once the team takes shape as there are various shared items.  Various websites have Denali gear lists, which are good references for required personal items.  We will finalize the shared and personal gear lists as a team.