In June 1996 I joined Fantasy Ridge Alpinism on a guided expedition climbing Denali in Alaska. This was a small team, with five clients and two guides. The guides, Lyle Dean and Jim Nigro, were excellent and I had a successful and very rewarding experience.
For several years I had wanted to climb Denali (Mount McKinley). In preparation I gained high altitude climbing experience climbing in Mexico in 1990 and in Ecuador in 1991-1992.
Finally, in the fall of 1995 I decided the time and circumstances were right to join a guided trip. Using a guide service I could minimize the logistical planning and preparations and instead focus on obtaining equipment and getting training. I could also attempt an alternate route to the standard West Buttress route and learn from an experienced Alaskan mountain guide.
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