JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska-Arctic paratroopers are testing their might and strength tackling the tallest peak in North America as they begin their climb today, May 29, 2014.
Mount McKinley - or "Denali" as it's frequently called in Alaska - is the tallest peak in North America at 20,237 feet. From its base to its peak, it rises 18,000 feet and is considered the tallest mountain in the world in terms of its size above sea level.
A five-man Spartan team from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division will climb up Denali to showcase their abilities as true Arctic warriors trained by the best in U.S. Army Alaska.
Additional team members include one soldier from the Northern Warfare Training Center in Black Rapids, Alaska and two Soldiers from the Vermont National Guard's Army Mountain Warfare School based in Jericho, Vt.
The Spartan team conducted an air insertion into the Kahiltna Glacier Base Camp, which sits at 7,600 feet, on Wednesday, May 28.
A typical ascent to the summit following the standard and most popular route along the West Buttress has a 55% success rate amongst climbers and can take anywhere from 18 to 23 days to negotiate the 13,000 foot change in elevation. Common hazards in attempting to reach the top include extreme cold (even in summer), altitude illness, crevasses, avalanches, ice and rock fall, and extreme weather.
U.S. Army Capt. Matthew Hickey, a field artillery officer with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, a native of St. Paul, Minn., is the Spartan expedition team leader. He is no stranger to Denali having successfully reached the summit in 2011, but states that just because he's made it to the summit before doesn't mean this climb will be easier.
"The mountain changes. The people you're with are different, even yourself; you change. You look at the mountain differently every time you go," said Hickey. "If anything, I would think that this would mean more because I've had the opportunity to share the experience with Soldiers and try to climb it for a bigger reason than just a goal."
Hickey and the rest of the Spartan expedition are climbing Denali to demonstrate that USARAK is the foremost location to transform Soldiers into Arctic warriors.
"USARAK as a whole is trying to get back to its roots as the world's premier location for Arctic warriors," said Hickey. "To climb Mount McKinley is a way to demonstrate not only USARAK's intention, but it kind of showcases our ability to [be] Arctic warriors."
The training for the expedition has been long and grueling, with everything from a seven-mile sprint on the first day of training to various mountaineering training events to include skiing, hiking, and glacier traversing.
Fellow Spartan team member, Spc. Matthew Tucker, a cavalry scout with the 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment, and a native of Grandfalls, Texas said, "I have a lot of technical ice climbing and rock climbing that I've done, but I was horrible on skis and I really didn't know anything about glacier travelling."
After completing the mountaineer course at Alaska's Northern Warfare Training Center, Tucker felt more confident in his abilities.
"By the end [of the course] I was comfortable and more confident," said Tucker. "I just have to improve on skiing."
"We're there representing 4/25, and USARAK, and the Army," Hickey added. "As far as other people are concerned, we're Soldiers. That's what we have to be on the mountain."
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