“Did You Summit?”

This is the first question most people ask when you return from Denali. As if 25 days with nine other people can be reduced to a singular goal. As if living at 14,000 feet in sub-zero temperatures and 40 mph winds for weeks on end can be regarded as a success or failure based on this single achievement. Yes, people go to Denali in order to summit. But to block out almost a month of deep powder in the middle of June, surrounded by my favorite comrades in adventure—these three words ignore the totality of that experience. My usual response?

“Summit or die.”…

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