Note: These brief biographies were written for the June 2000
expedition to Denali.
Pete Athans
Pete Athans is one of the world's leading mountaineers. He has been
to the summit of Everest six times, more than any other Westerner.
This summer, he is a volunteer patrol member for the Denali National
Park Service and will rescue climbers in need of help.
Colby Coombs
Colby Coombs has been a guide on Denali for many years. He is the
author of the acclaimed book
Denali's West Buttress : A Climber's Guide to Mount McKinley's
Classic Route.
Colby is the expedition leader of the NOVA Denali Filming
Expedition.
Dr. Howard Donner
Dr. Howard Donner is a high-altitude physician who is volunteering
for the National Park Service to help climbers who need immediate
medical attention at 14,000 feet.
John Grunsfeld
John Grunsfeld is an astronaut. He helped assemble the Mir
spacecraft, repair the Hubble space telescope, and has spent over 38
days in space. On Earth, he has never been above 17,750 feet. This
will be his first attempt on the summit of Denali.
Dr. Peter Hackett
Dr. Peter Hackett is a world authority on high-altitude medicine and
physiology. In 1982, he established the medical camp at 14,000 feet
on Denali to study and assist climbers suffering from cold and
altitude-related illnesses.
Caitlin Palmer
Caitlin Palmer is a veteran Denali guide. With Colby, she helps run
the Alaska Mountaineering School out of Talkeetna, and is the
expedition coordinator for our trip.
|