Denali Summit Day Photos — Father Son Team Ski from the Top


Post by WildSnow.com blogger | June 15, 2010      


Lou and Louie on the top! It was incredibly cold on the Denali Summit, at least 10 below zero with a stiff breeze. We did all we could to keep the camera working and get photos, but being as tired as we were, we only got a few. The other guys got quite a bit more, but they've raced off down the mountain ahead of us today and I don't have their camera cards, so here are the Lou and Louie shots for now, other guys later.

Father Lou and son Lou 2 on the Denali summit, what an experience! Thanks everyone for your help and support with making this happen, and thank God we've had a safe and successful trip so far! It was incredibly cold on the Denali Summit, at least 10 below zero with a stiff breeze. We did all we could to keep the camera working and get photos, but being as tired as we were, we messed up a bit and only got a few. The other guys got more images, but they've raced off down the mountain ahead of us today and I don't have their camera cards, so here are the Lou and Louie shots for now, other guys later.



Lou on the summit ridge -- at 14,000 feet it would have taken 10 minutes, instead it took a half hour. Parts are knife edged with something like a 10,000 vertical foot cliff dropping off to your right.

Lou on the summit ridge -- at 14,000 feet it would have taken 10 minutes, instead it took a half hour. Parts are knife edged with something like a 10,000 vertical foot cliff dropping off to your right.


Louie skiing from the Summit of Denali, at about 20,300 feet above the sea.

Louie skiing from the Summit of Denali, at about 20,300 feet above the sea.


Lou with his planks on the summit tip. Louie did the same thing but the camera malfed for his hero shot. Shucks. But the memory will live. The snow off the summit and down to 17,000 feet was incredibly variable, everything from powder to super hard white-ice. Difficult in our wasted state, but doable -- and a lot faster than walking.

Lou with his planks on the summit tip. Louie did the same thing but the camera malfed for his hero shot. Shucks. But the memory will live. The snow off the summit and down to 17,000 feet was incredibly variable, everything from powder to super hard white-ice. Difficult in our wasted state, but doable -- and a lot faster than walking.

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Posted by Lou Dawson on June 15, 2010 | Filed Under Backcountry Skiing, Denali McKinley, Trip Reports Backcountry 
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Comments

20 Responses to “Denali Summit Day Photos — Father Son Team Ski from the Top”

  1. Mark June 15th, 2010 9:41 pm

    Congratulations! Have a safe return.

  2. Mark W June 15th, 2010 10:03 pm

    Truly inspiring! Guys, what goggles/glacier glasses did you use?

  3. Randonnee June 15th, 2010 10:29 pm

    Great, those photos make me grin. Congratulations again! :biggrin:

  4. Jack15T June 16th, 2010 3:46 am

    Fantastic guys!!! Congratulations!

  5. Murray Chapman June 16th, 2010 7:22 am

    Well done guys – great achievement and all the better to do it as father and son.

  6. johndoyle June 16th, 2010 7:52 am

    Nicely done Lou and crew. I have really enjoyed following your posts; Can’t wait to see more photos. Congratulations!

  7. Craig B June 16th, 2010 8:02 am

    way to gitsum, safe travels…..

  8. RB June 16th, 2010 8:11 am

    Lou, you inspire me.

  9. Tuck June 16th, 2010 8:36 am

    Congrats. Happy to hear it’s been so uneventful so far!

  10. Nick June 16th, 2010 10:40 am

    Lou – awesome work and congrats! Be safe on the remainder.

    What ski descent route did you guys use? Sounds like you were able to ski all the way back to 17K (so I assume the summit snow fields/ridge, rather than Messner/Orient). Did you ski from 17K to 14K (where the fixed lines are)?

  11. Hamish Gowans June 16th, 2010 11:56 am

    Absolutely Tip-Top!
    Nice work everyone: Lou for plugging on and everyone for holding together.
    Onward to Everest!

  12. Tap Dawson June 16th, 2010 12:31 pm

    Hey Bro, you 2 are truly awesome. The Cali Dawsons are all proud of you and your tenacious achievement. Great hero shot on the summit! Have a safe trip back to our world…

  13. Marie McHale Drake June 16th, 2010 1:30 pm

    Congratulations Lou! You likely don’t remember me but my brother Mike and your brother Tom were good friends in Crested Butte. I’ve been following your Denali adventure thanks to Tapley’s posting of it on FaceBook. It’s very inspiring. Have a safe trip back down. Best, Marie

  14. graham June 16th, 2010 5:27 pm

    swank!

  15. dave depo June 16th, 2010 6:55 pm

    Aweinspiring trip! Looks close to skiing on the clouds if one could. Love all the gear and flavorful blogs. You guys make the mass transit commute home fr NYC bearable and the pull of my own trip to the Daks end Sept.palpable.
    Tx for the hard work. Major team effort! Major Congrats,
    From a die hard ski\ outdoor family.

  16. Lindy and Geoff June 16th, 2010 8:00 pm

    dave depo
    at least 2 of the Wild Snow Denali team members cut their teeth climbing some of the 46ers – see what that can lead to?

  17. Raine Hall June 16th, 2010 8:30 pm

    Congratulations Bro! I was there about 25 years ago and all because you introduced me to climbing when we were kids in Aspen. Take it easy on the down climb and watch out for the crevasses on the Kahiltna.
    All the love,
    Raine

  18. Zach Taylor June 17th, 2010 8:53 am

    Awesome pictures and a great accomplishment! This is an inspiration to many of us that would like to follow in your tracks off that summit someday….

  19. Franklin Pillsbury June 18th, 2010 5:37 am

    Great stuff….would be cool to have you on our Lets Go Outdoors Texas radio show from the top of North Amercia!!
    Blessings,
    Franklin IV

  20. Jordan June 21st, 2010 12:55 am

    Mark–
    Everyone in our crew used some form of Julbo Glacier Glasses. Not sponsored gear by any means, but they seem to have it dialed. Minimal fogging, and lots of protection. Goggles seemed to be smith all around save for Louie and his Poc goggles.

    Nick–
    In our opinion on summit day it was best to return and ski the fixed lines. Rescue sure would have been nice, but I think when Denali gives you a safer alternative it may be a good option.

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