Unpopular Opinion Game
There is an online video trend where people ask for an unpopular opinion. Sometimes these are controversial opinions and sometimes they’re not.
Our unpopular opinion…?
Denali (Mt. McKinley) is physically harder than Mt. Everest.
Why is Denali Harder than Everest?
First and foremost, this is not to say that Everest is easy. And indeed, the summit day on Everest is definitely harder than the summit day on Denali. But when compared side-by-side for the entirety of the expedition, it’s clear that Denali is more physically demanding.
The biggest difference between the two expeditions is the amount of support. On Everest, there is a tremendous amount of support. Sherpas assist climbers with everything. And climbers don’t carry very much up the mountain at all.
On Denali, every single climber is responsible for 100 to 125lbs worth of gear, food and fuel. This is carried up the mountain in stages, some on your back and some in a sled. This is a grueling process that often wears down those that are not used to massive amounts of weight, day-in and day-out. And ironically, some people find summit day on Denali to be one of the easier days, as it’s the lightest day of the entire expedition.
The American Alpine Institute’s Approach to Denali
The American Alpine Institute is considered the best mountain school and guide service in the country. AAI has repeatedly received praise for the way it conducts its trips.
At its core, AAI guides are empathetic instructors that can put themselves in the shoes of those they’re climbing with. They understand the massive commitment that people have made to be on the mountain. They understand the training, the expense and the time away from family. AAI guides are not there to be “king of the mountain” or to adhere to the arrogant mountain guide stereotype, instead they are there for their climbers. They are there to guide them on a journey to success.