Climbing Denali's Slovak Direct w/ BD athlete Andy Houseman and Nick Bullock

Climbed Denali's Slovak Direct route in 84 hours, battling epic spindrift, difficult ice and mixed climbing and challenging weather.
by

Black Diamond athlete Andy Houseman, along with his partner Nick Bullock, made a trip to the Alaska Range this past spring where they made the sixth ascent of the massive and infamous Slovak Direct route on the south face of Denali. The route, put up in 1986 using fixed lines over the course of 11 days, is over 9,000 feet tall—making it one of the biggest, most committing lines in the range. The pair climbed the route in 84 hours, battling epic spindrift, difficult ice and mixed climbing and challenging weather. The video below provides a first-hand look at the sheer scale of the route and what it takes to climb such a massive, remote face.

 


0
0

Add your comment

by Anonymous - Already have an account? Login now!
Your Name:

Comment:
Enter the text you see in the image below
What do you see?
Can't read the image? View a new one.
Your comment will appear after being approved.

Related Posts


Ueli Steck training for Everest to climb a 'different route' with Simone Moro without oxygen. We caught up with the 'Swiss Machine' to find out how he has been preparing for the highest peak in the world.  more »

Black Diamond: BDTV S1 - Episode 1: One Seven Eight - Backcountry Skiing How do you create a life that balances work, family and your passion for the mountains? In the first episode of BDTV, we travel to Jämtland, Sweden, where Henrik Westling...  more »

Janelle and Mark Smiley climb the Cassin Ridge on the South side of Denali. This uber classic alpine route starts at 11,200 feet and tops out on the summit of Denali, 20,310 feet. Check out their other adventures at: smileysproject.com  more »

Cody Booth, Aspen Rain Weaver, and Thomas Delfino battle bad weather, the threat of grizzly bears, and mud to find snowboarding in the Aleutian mountain range.  more »

Ryan Price - A Skier's Search for Meaning School is back in session as the first flakes of winter begin to fall. But what does it all mean, anyway? Ryan Price, Devin Price, and Mike Cullen take us straight to the heart of the matter. LOCATIONS: Sugar...  more »

After retiring from Olympic competition, Australian Downhill skiers Jono Brauer and Craig Branch head to Points North Heli Alaska for what was to be their next adventure, although adrenaline levels are reset when Jono crashes on an exposed face and is...  more »

"In a lot of ways, this is the antithesis of the modern ski porn flick. A lot of rock star skiers and not much skiing! Ha! Well, hopefully having a narrative helps the piece along. It was a tough piece to put together with all the different characters. I...  more »

"Long considered impossible, coveted by many and attempted by a few, the Fitz Traverse has fueled the imaginations of climbers in Patagonia for decades. Tracing the iconic skyline of Cerro Fitz Roy and its six satellite peaks, it spans four miles and...  more »

Submit your own

Contribute:



Ask a Question