Mt. McKinley (2008) - Epilogue

Post-Trip Stuff

It's been a while since the McKinley expedition. My big toenail on my right foot is still there, and still bloody, but slowly improving. My right little finger was numb from the last knuckle down for about a month, which made typing (an integral part of my profession) a bit strange, since I couldn't actually feel that finger pressing the keys. The tips of a few of my toes were also numb for a little while. And I haven't yet gained back all of the muscle I lost on the trip. I think I came back fifteen or twenty pounds lighter and I was already fairly lean to begin with. The word "gaunt" comes to mind. The blisters eventually went away, although I ended up hobbling around in flip-flops for a few weeks. It was a good thing that work is "casual dress".

I'm planning a return trip to McKinley in May 2009 (doing the West Buttress again) with two guys from my Rainier trip (Corey and Brett). Self-guided this time. I learned a lot the first time around. I'll definitely be bringing an iPod Touch and a solar panel. And a better selection of food. And a pack made by a company other than Jansport. And I'll definitely tape up my feet really well before descending from 11k camp. I'm contemplating bringing some form of communication with me - be it a two-way radio (if I can find that there are available repeaters) or just give in and bring a satellite phone (which costs about $1.75/minute).

Following this, in June, I'm hoping that RMI will let me do Liberty Ridge on Rainier and then I'll go back to McKinley, one last time, and do the West Rib route. And then I think I'll be done with McKinley for a while. A long while.

The sense of non-belonging in this city hasn't completely faded. I know that I can't live here long-term.

Well, that's it for now. I hope you've found this journal and its pictures interesting. Please drop me an email if you have any questions or comments: [email protected].