Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is the tallest mountain in the U.S. at about 20,300 feet. While Everest is higher above sea level, Denali has greater volume and rise (Everest climbers start on top of the Tibetan plateau at about 17,000 feet. Frederick Cook, who heralded himself as the first man to reach the North pole in 1908, claimed the first ascent of the mountain in 1906. It was later discovered from journal sketches that Cook had reached a lower peak, paving the way for Hudson Stuck who climbed to the main peak in 1913 and likened the view to looking down from heaven.
Many climbers use Denali as a stepping stone to higher mountains, such as the Himalayas, due to its relatively good weather and ease of access. Several companies such as Alpine Adventures offer Denali climbs for prices in the 6000 dollar range. While certainly not cheap, this beats the 65000 that is usually charged for an Everest climb. Given these aspects I have decided to climb Denali in the summer of 2010, provided I can raise 6000 to climb the mountain and another 4000 for travel, gear and a prerequisite course on climbing. This should be good preparation for my potential Everest trip, and an interesting trip in general to the tallest mountain in North America.
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