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Minnesota Climber Summits Mount McKinley -- In January And By Himself!

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Published Date

January 13, 2015

Climbing Mount McKinley in Denali National Park in Alaska usually is a goal that comes to fruition in May or June. Someone must have neglected to tell Lonnie Dupre that.

The Grand Marais, Minnesota, man not only summited the 20,237-foot mountain on Sunday, but he did it alone, a first in Denali's climbing lore.

"Today at 5:08 central time Lonnie Dupre reached the summit of Denali," read a post on his Facebook page.

The 53-year-old Dupre started his trek on December 18, when he reached basecamp. Three times before -- in 2010, 2011, and 2012 -- he had set out to accomplish the goal of standing atop McKinley, and each time he was forced back short of the goal by sub-zero cold and/or blizzards.

This year's effort, which won't be complete until he safely gets off the mountain, is fraught with both physical and mental challenges.

"I have currently been on the mountain for 21 days and I wanted to talk a little bit about the psychological difficulties you have on a trip like this," Dupre said in a voice message sent last Thursday from his satellite phone to his support team and published by the Alaska Dispatch News. "Mainly it is just the waiting for good weather so you can move. There is nothing worse than having to stay put, especially when you have 18 hours of darkness every evening; it makes for very long nights.

"And of course, always having the weather pull the rug out from under you when you were excited to go out somewhere that day and do some climbing. And then of course there is always worry about safety and supplies, and those kinds of things are the kind of things that weigh on my mind each day."

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Comments

Submitted by SmokiesBackpacker on January 13, 2015 - 8:51am.

Lonnie is to be congratulated for this incredible accomplishment.  His perserverance and drive is legendary.  As someone who climbed Denali in good weather, I can attest to the difficulties a "regular" ascent of the West Buttress can present.  Kudos, Mr. Dupre.  Now be careful on the way down.


Submitted by rmackie on January 13, 2015 - 10:41am.

Agree Smokies Backpacker, An amazing feat of will and endurance. 


Submitted by Rick B. on January 13, 2015 - 1:06pm.

Well done.


Submitted by Lee Dalton on January 13, 2015 - 4:31pm.

But, what if he had gotten into serious trouble up there?  Who would have to go rescue him?


Submitted by SmokiesBackpacker on January 13, 2015 - 8:04pm.

More than likely the US Coast guard since the NPS doesn't maintain a permanant ranger presence in the off season on the mtn.  But for the price of 350 bucks per climber, up from $200 per climber in 2012 US citizens can pay the same price as foreigners to have the NPS making sure they are carrying a CMC and watching the movies in Talkeetna showing dead mountaineers.  $350 to climb a US mtn.  We are the land of equality since Japanese and Nepali and every other nationality pays the same price as US taxpayers to ascend Denali.


Submitted by Rick B. on January 15, 2015 - 2:18am.

I do believe the Alaska Air National Guard pararescue helicopters have some experience on the mountain.

Edited to add - There is an update with a bit of info on current conditions here.


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