Mountain Trip would like to welcome and introduce the next small group of climbers, who will be making an attempt on the formidable Upper Rib Route on Denali.
The Upper Rib follows the path of the classic West Buttress Route up until Camp 3 at 14,200′, and then deviates to the left where the West Buttress Route follows the fixed lines. The route then ascends a steep, broad ridge that enters the upper part of the Orient Express, a couloir on the western side of the south face of Denali, and follows a vertiginous path to the summit. The Upper Rib involves technical, mixed climbing and a very long summit day, and the team will only attempt the route if weather allows.
Let’s meet the climbers!
Ephi Gildor has joined Mountain Trip and lead guide and Mountain Trip co-owner Bill Allen for many trips in the past. Ephi has been up all Seven Summits with Mountain Trip, and this will be his second trip up Denali. He summitted on his first trip via the West Buttress Route. Omri Gildor, Ephi’s son, has climbed Killimanjaro with Mountain Trip, and this will be his first attempt on Denali. They will be joining us from Aspen, Colorado.
Lead guide Bill Allen, from Colorado,
Bill will be assisted by guide Taylor Pyle, from Lander, Wyoming, who has been helping out with Mountain Trip operations throughout the summer in Anchorage. Brady Deal, born and raised Anchorage, was a former Mountain Trip intern who has done many impressive ascents and ski descents in the Alaska Range. DaOngchhu Sherpa, coming to us from the Himalaya, will be guest-guiding on the expedition. DaOnchhu assisted Bill and Ephi during their trip up Everest.
The team has all of their food, gear and supplies packed for their 22-day expedition to the highest point in North America, the summit of Denali. After their meeting with the Climbing Rangers from the National Park Service, the team will load up into a plane from the Talkeetna Air Taxi and fly out to Base Camp on the Kahiltna Glacier.
As always, Mountain Trip appreciates the trust and support of our climbers to help them realize their big mountain dreams on the highest peak in North America. Denali, which soars to an elevation of 20,310 feet, a full 18,000′ above the Alaskan tundra.
Best of luck to the Ephi, Omri and their guide team. We’ll post photo and audio updates from the team as they call in via satellite phone to the Mountain Trip office.
