Jeremy Jones Denali Trip Report

Jeremy Jones just completed his first ascent and descent of 20,320-foot Denali in Alaska.  Denali is North America’s highest peak and offers some very challenging snowboarding options.  Jeremy put together a detailed write up about his trip with some great additions from other team members and some fantastic photos.  Check out the excerpt below and you’ve gotta see his full spread here:    “My Denali Vacation” by Jeremy Jones

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEREMY JONES:

The invite came at the end of an email regarding Protect Our Winters…

“By the way, do you want to come to Denali in June?  I am going with my son Max, some of his friends and a few of mine.  No camera crew…full vacation.”   – Conrad Ankor

Denali had never really been on my tick list. Assuming the peak was crowded, wind hammered and didn’t get much fresh snow above 14k, I had never been very inspired to ride it. But this was an offer I couldn’t refuse. To get an invitation from none other than Conrad Anker, one of the world’s most accomplished alpinists was a true honor.

But what put the invite over the top was the “no camera crew…vacation” part of the email. For the last few years I have been leading a large production crew on multiple intense trips to unknown places each winter.  A “love of sport” adventure was just what I needed. And what better way to see North America’s biggest mountain than with a diverse group that I had mostly never met.

The plan went next-level when the dates matched up perfectly with an Alaska vacation I had planned with my family. What a month in Alaska this was gonna be!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

Comprehending the scale of Denali is a hard thing to do. My first close view came from Talkeetna. Coming around the corner the first peak I saw was Mt Hunter (14,500 ft). I thought it was Denali and was blown away. When Denali finally came into view I was absolutely astonished. Rising 19,000 vertical feet above me, the peak filled the sky line like no mountain has ever done for me before.

Read Jeremy’s full story here:  “My Denali Vacation” by Jeremy Jones