To The Top of Denali: Climbing Adventures on North America's Highest Peak

In this revised and updated third edition, Bill Sherwonit brings to life the adventure, heroism, triumph, and tragedy of climbing North America's highest peak, Denali. He offers great insight and tales of daring adventure for both experienced climbers and armchair explorers who wonder why people climb mountains. The book contains stores about some of the best known personalities associated with the mountain — from Bradford Washburn to Vern Tejas. Sherwonit has added new records and climbing data along with some stories of new faces who have attempted the climb. He also updated the Park Service rules regarding climbing Denali.

ISBN-13: 9780882408941

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Turner Publishing Company

Publication Date: 10-01-2012

Pages: 374

Product Dimensions: 5.40(w) x 8.50(h) x 2.80(d)

Sherwonit is an outdoors/nature writer. Art Davidson is the author of many books, including In the Wake of the Exxon Valdez. He lives outside Anchorage, Alaska.

Read an Excerpt

Carefully working their way along the ridge crest, the men noticed a strong breeze coming up the south face. Finally they came to an aluminum pole, sticking out of the ice. A moment passed before they realized the pole marked McKinley’s summit. Davidson, Johnston, and Genet grabbed each other in a three-way hug, shouted, and slapped each other’s shoulders in celebration. They’d made it; the first men to stand on North America’s top in winter.  

—-First Winter Ascent, Page 158

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"These marvelous stories demonstrate the risks and challenges of this 20,320-foot peak....An engaging and informative read."   —-The Booklist

 

"Bill Sherwonit's TO THE TOP OF DENALI is a compelling read. ..puts it in a league with such classics as Davidson's Minus 148."   —- Rock & Ice Magazine

 

 

"I enjoyed every minute of [this book] —- both [Sheronit's] own personal experiences on the dear old West Butrress and [his] discerning review of the mountain's absorbing history."       —- Bradford Washburn

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Table of Contents

Foreword by Art Davidson, Preface, Acknowledgements, Ch 1 The Mountain, Ch 2 The Pioneers, Ch 3 The Sourdough Expedition 1910, Ch 4 Hudson Stuck and the First Ascent 1913, Ch 5 The 1932 Expeditions; Carpe and Lindley-Like, Ch 6 Bradford Washburn and the West Buttress, Ch 7 Cassin’s Conquest of the South Face, 1961, Ch 8 The First Winter Ascent, 1967, Ch 9 The Wilcox Expedition Disaster, 1967, Ch 10 Winter Solo Ascents: Waterman, Uemura, and Johnston, Ch 11 Winter Solo Ascents: Tejas and Staeheli, Ch 12 The Deadliest Season, 1992, Ch 13 Climber Self-Sufficiency and Rescues, Ch 14 Mountain of Trash, Ch 15 Guiding on McKinley, Ch 16 Looking to the Future, Notes, Glossary, Alaska Climbers Hall of Fame, Mount McKinley Firsts, Winter Ascents of Mt. McKinley Through 2011, Denali National Park and Preserve Climbing Services, Bibliography, Index.