To make a responsible bid for the summit of a mountain as
extreme as Denali, climbers need to have years of climbing
experience, have mastered a host of skills, and be physically
and mentally prepared for the challenge. Denali is so massive
that it creates its own weather. Storms blast climbers with
hurricane-force winds and temperatures can sink to -40°F.
The objective hazards on the mountain include crevasse fields,
avalanches, and steep slopes. While the skills necessary to
survive such weather and terrain cannot be practiced via the
Internet, we have illustrated four that climbers must learn
before tackling Denali. Click on any of the Survival Skills to
find out more.—Thom Pollard
