In June of 2012, I attempted a climb of the tallest mountain on the North American continent. Mt. McKinley, known by its native name of Denali, stands at 20,320ft above sea level.
View of Denali (20,320ft) rising above the clouds while on approach via airplane
After months of preparation and weeks of climbing, our team arrived on the final ridge before the summit and cached our gear at 16,400ft, with plans to make the final push the following day. Little did we know the snowstorm that would come that evening. We awoke in the middle of the night to dig our tents free from a foot of fresh snow, all the while facing -20°F temperatures.
Our tents buried in the snowstorm
By morning, we knew that our summit attempt would, at the very least, be delayed. After digging snow pits and testing the avalanche conditions, the guides determined that the path to the summit was far to dangerous to continue. We waited it out for 10 days at 14,000ft camp waiting for the snowpack to improve but eventually we were forced to descend. We were the last climbers of the season and it would be another year before climbers returned to the ridge and retrieved our gear.
Testing avalanche conditions in snow pit
While it was disappointing to come up short of the summit, I am thankful for the wisdom of our guides who made the right decision so that we can continue to climb another day. Just a few weeks prior, 4 men caught in an avalanche were not so fortunate.
Denali 16,400ft ridge where we left our gear
I will return to Denali in 2014 with the hopes of better conditions and a successful summit. In the meantime, I am greatly encouraged by the support that we raised for the church building in Rolpa, Nepal. With your support, we raised over $4,000 to build a church in the rural Himalayan village. Thanks to your faithfulness, an entire culture is being impacted by the Gospel.
In May of 2010, the day after graduating from Texas A&M University, I boarded a plane to Kathmandu, Nepal, with plans to solo trek to the base camp of Mount Everest. The journey is recounted below, as transcribed from my travel journal.
May 16, 2010
Depart IAH bound for Doha, Qatar
May 17
Arrive in Doha, Qatar
Transfer and depart for Kathmandu, Nepal
May 18
Arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal
Share a taxi ride into what I thought was Thamel
Wound up being dropped off a couple of miles away
Wander the streets until finding way back to Thamel and check in at the Kathmandu Guest House
Head into town and register for a trekking permit
Wander town looking for bus station
Two hours later purchase what I believe to be a bus ticket to Jiri
Getting settled into my budget room at the Kathmandu Guest House
May 19
Navigate bus station and find my bus with the help of a local
Ride with Nepalese passengers for 10 hrs through the most dangerous roads into the Himalayas
Arrive in Jiri and settle in at the Cherdung Lodge for the evening
My first taste of the local staple Dal bhat
May 20 – Jiri to Bhandar
Man at lodge offers to be my guide and carry my bag for $20/day – I turn down the offer
Lodge owner sends me off with a silk prayer scarf
Greeted at the trailhead by a kid pooping in the street
Follow a German guy’s porter to Shivalaya where he stops for the day
Now I am on my own for the first time as I trek to Bhandar – complete exhaustion
Meet Australian guy named Andrew at Deorali, nice to hear English
While sleeping at the teahouse, a nasty cat jumps on me in the middle of the night
Jiri, Nepal
May 21 – Bhandar to Sete
Got lost for the first time, local kids yell at me, “Hello!, This way!”
Very friendly guy in Kinja, laughed at how heavy my pack is
Rain starts at Chimbu
Stayed in teahouse in Sete where at least 30 stone workers were smoking hashish
May 22 – Sete to Junbesi
Crossed a mountain pass at a higher elevation than Namche
Bunches of mule herds on the path
Walked through the clouds today
Met dude building one of those temple things (stupa), wanted me to donate
He seemed friendly enough, but I wasn’t buying it
May 23 – Junbesi to Nunthala
Met Sarah, a firefighter from D.C. who had been living in Iraq
Asked God for clouds, got mad when He gave me hot sun
Hard rain all afternoon, muddy, slippery trail
First view of the Himalayan peaks
Met Brad, 3rd time in Nepal, retired IT consultant, English teacher
Hiking through the forest of Rhododendrons
May 24 – Nunthala to Bupsa
Ran into Malaysians making a documentary about climbing Mera Peak, one 72 year old
Malay talked about John Wayne and Roy Williams
At Bupsa, sat down with Brad, Sarah, and new guy Ian who had just spent a month traveling India
Malaysians filming their documentary
May 25 – Bupsa to Phakding
Longest day of trekking since Jiri to Bhandar
Clear skys, warm weather, beautiful peaks
Saw planes going into and out of Lukla
After a 10 hour trekking day, ran into Brad at the lodge
God is sustaining me
Excited about Namche
Nepalese porters hauling 100kg loads to Namche
May 26 – Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Slept in really late and didn’t start hiking until 9AM
Now past Lukla, there are LOTS of people on the trail including trekking groups
Shortest day yet – 5hrs including lunch break
Arrived in Namche and played pool with Brad and Ian in Cafe Daphne while Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “That Smell” played in the background
Ate dinner at the lodge and ordered the “Steak Sizzler” which was Yak meat
Namche Bazaar, Nepal
May 27 – Namche Bazaar Rest Day
Ate a delicious pizza at Everest Bakery
Bought a knock off Mountain Hardwear down jacket for 2500r ~$33
Last dinner together with Brad, Sarah, and Ian
Buddha’s birthday is today
Followed the parade procession to the monastery where they served yak tea
Buddha’s Birthday at the monastery in Namche
May 28 – Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
Met Nepali, Hemu, who graduated from the University of South Florida
Toured a monastery and met Bob, a Christian missionary who spent 9 years in Nepal
Bob was trekking with brother Larry and has many stories about God’s work in the region
Met guy from Minneapolis who had been a boat captain on the show Deadliest Catch
Met 3 Sikhs from Canada who were very funny
Ate my first apple pie – very delicious
Apparently Jimmy Carter stayed at the Khumbu Lodge
