The highest peak in North America—known as Denali or “Great One” by Alaskan Natives—is the site for this expedition designed for qualified NOLS graduates.
Denali offers extremely challenging glacier travel and some of the most difficult weather in the world, so this course is one of the most demanding NOLS offers, both physically and mentally. In short, Denali is as unforgiving as it is beautiful. During the course you’ll attempt to climb the Muldrow Glacier route on the north side of the mountain.
The expedition begins with a day of tundra hiking followed by several days of hiking up the lower rock-covered and icy expanses of the Muldrow Glacier. After a resupply at McGonagall Pass, you’ll continue up the Muldrow, encountering crevasses and deep snow. The route then ascends the dramatic Karsten’s Ridge to the Harper Glacier. There you’ll establish high camp at approximately 17,000 feet, from which you’ll attempt the 20,320-foot summit.
This route has a remote wilderness flavor that is not found on the more frequented routes up the mountain.
The walls of Alaska's glaciated
classroom offer unparalleled opportunities for learning snow and
ice mountaineering.
Photo: Andy Rich
“People talk about wild areas all the
time, but Alaska has a wildness and beauty unlike anywhere
else. When our group finally made it to a summit, we just
went wild. I’ll never forget that feeling of being on
a mountain where hardly anyone else has ever been.”
Ryan Hughes
Semester in Alaska, 1999
University of Maine Student
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