Alaska is home to some of the most amazing vistas on Earth. And few Alaskan views are more impressive than Mt. McKinley (also known as Mt. Denali). In this photo, taken during the warmer summer months, the summit looks serene. The photographer, Lori A. Coleman, told FQTQ, “The summit had not been visible for about a month before this day. We first saw it from the distance on the train, then took a bus ride through Denali National Park to get closer. There was only a small hat like cloud hovering over the mountain.” Show With a summit that reaches 20,320 feet above sea level, this mountain is the highest point in the United Sates and the highest point in all of North America. In fact, when measured base-to-peak, it is the tallest mountain on land anywhere in the world (Everest is only higher because its base is at a higher elevation). The reserve upon which this mountain sits is simply enormous. The total size of the park is 9,419 sq. miles (24,000 sq. km). If you didn't know, 9,000 square miles is larger than many states in the U.S. For example, the entire state of Massachusetts is only 8,284 sq. miles (21,455 sq km). Since it is in Alaska, unsurprisingly, 17% of the park is covered by glaciers. The largest of these is on the south side of the Alaska Range and measures 35-45 miles in length. And of course, wherever you have glaciers you have cold…extreme cold. The average winter temperatures hover around –40 °F (-40 °C). If human skin is exposed to such extreme temperatures, moderate to severe frostbite can be expected within minutes (with the wind chill factor on this mountain, you generally have under 10min. before your skin starts to freeze and die). And the average summer temperature? A searing -10 °F (-23 °C). On December 1, 2003 the temperature station recorded a North American record wind chill of −118 °F (−83 °C). The first successful summit was on June 7, 1913. Although almost a century has passed since this first historic trek, the mountain is still terribly dangerous. To date, over 100 people have perished on the mountain. The most recent deaths occurred this past summer. In July, an avalanche swept four Japanese climbers into a crevasse over 100 feet deep. Their bodies were never found. However, avalanches and glacial shifts are regular occurrences here. As a result, the remains of many are well hidden from sight. All in all, 44 individuals have never been found. But life can thrive in even the harshest climes (though maybe not human life). Denali National Park is home to an abundance of wildlife, and the most interesting resident is undoubtedly the wood frog. The wood frog is the only amphibian that lives in the park. Because the park is so frigid, this resilient frog has evolved in some…peculiar ways. Namely, the frogs freeze solid during the winter. Their hearts stop beating, and they don’t breathe again until the spring thaw. The peak of Mt. Everest is 29,032 feet (8,849m) above sea level, making it the mountain with the highest elevation. However, the base of Mount Everest is estimated to be 17,000 feet (5,200m), making the vertical rise of the mountain roughly only 12,000 feet.
On the other hand, Denali has a very low base height of about 2000 feet (610m) with a peak of 20,310 feet. This makes Denali’s vertical rise estimated at 18,000 feet (5,500m). Using this measurement qualifies Denali as the tallest mountain on land in the world. This difference in elevation makes Denali an extremely challenging mountain to summit from base to peak. Combine that with the lack of foothills and a low point in the park at about 250 feet (76m) above sea level, and there are places in the park where you can stand and look up at a full 20,000 feet of the mountain. All these things play into the WOW factor of seeing Denali in all its glory. According to Wikipedia, Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, its former official name, is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level. With a topographic prominence of 20,194 feet (6,155 m)[3] and a topographic isolation of 4,621.1 miles (7,436.9 km), Denali is the third most prominent and third most isolated peak on Earth, after Mount Everest and Aconcagua. Located in the Alaska Range in the interior of the U.S. state of Alaska, Denali is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve. While some say Mount Denali is harder, others say Mount Everest is harder. It takes months to summit Mount Everest, and typically mountaineers need supplemental oxygen unless it's pro-pro climbers. It takes about 3 weeks to summit Mount Denali and doesn't typically require supplemental oxygen as there is no "death zone". Everybody knows that Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world when it comes to peak elevation at 29,032 feet, but did you know that a mountain right here in North America is technically taller when it comes to vertical change? Yup! Denali, formally known as Mt. McKinley, located in Denali National Park, AK, has the largest vertical rise of any mountain in the world. Take a look at the post by Denali National Park and Preserve to explain what they mean:  “Denali is taller than Everest. You read that right. The peak of Mt. Everest is 29,032 feet (8,849m) above sea level, making it the mountain with the highest elevation. However, the base of Mount Everest is estimated to be 17,000 feet (5,200m), making the vertical rise of the mountain roughly only 12,000 feet! |
