A long-time friend and one of the most experienced high altitude guides working today, Marty Schmidt, is leading a team of four climbers up the iconic West Rib route of Denali beginning today.  Marty has been a fixture on Denali for decades (28 summits) and has climbed and guided Everest, K2, Cho Oyu, Kanchenchunga, and climbed four 8000m peaks over the course of one year (Cho Oyu, Makalu, GII and G1) between late 2009-10.

In 2011, Marty and his son Denali, climbed a new line on Denali that many of us had been eying for years that rises from the entrance of the NE Fork of the Kahiltna and follows a slender, elegant ridge up to the edge of the bustling 14,200′ camp.

Marty and Denali are leading a team of climbers up the West Rib, a route that sees very few climbers.

Let’s meet the team!

Marty Schmidt

Denali Schmidt

Ed Watkins

Kenny Pakora

Parker Newby

Tom Klein