UNAIR NEWS – Airlangga Indonesia Denali Expedition Team(AIDeX) of Universitas Airlangga Mountaineering Club is currently hiking the highest mountain in North America, McKinley or also known as Denali.
From the latest news received by the manager of AIDex Team, Wahyu Nur Wahid, the team is currently at 9,350 feet 2,850 m above sea level. The news was gathered from the global positioning system (GPS) satellite on Wednesday, May 31, Indonesian times.
On Tuesday of Alaskan times, the team was heading towards camp 2 at 11,200 feet. But the three athletes of AIDeX, Muhammad Faishal Tamimi (Faculty of Vocational Studies student/2011), Mochammad Roby Yahya (Faculty of Fisheries and Marine), and Yasak (alumnus of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences) was accompanied by a guide decided to take a rest below Kahiltna Pass or 9,350.
“There was 1,850 feet different but the temperature was minus 18 degrees Celsius. Denali is clear even at night. Alhamdullillah, the team condition is well,” said the guide, Sofyan Arief Fesa.
Before continuing the journey, a day before, the team stocked the food and fuel under the snow in Camp 1. It is done for preparation if there is an emergency and it is used as back up food supply when they are down. Furthermore, it also lessened their burden during acclimatization phase.
Unfriendly weather
In Alaska, AIDeX team has made a good preparation, such as checking their stuff, their food, also preparing their departure. The team head for Denali from Kahiltna International Airport located in the last village before Denali, Talkeetna.
They flew from 7,200 feet above sea level with small plane. There was an unfriendly weather so the plane could not land on the glacier so the flight was called off until the next day. On Friday, May 26, the team start their expedition from the base camp to camp 1.
“There was a German team flight before ours. They returned to Takeetna because they couldn’t land while we’re on the third flight and made it to the basecamp,” said Roby.
As they arrived in base camp, the team put up their tent for acclimatization for a day before starting their expedition on May 27. During their expedition, the team took the West Buttres route. It is often used by the hikers to Denali’s summit.
“The team headed to Camp 2 at two in the afternoon. At first it was quite sunny but not for long it was windy and snowy so it was quite challenging with a pair of 4 kilo snow boots,” said Faishal.
“The snow’s height was a knee so the team had to put more efforts to walk. Their weights are 50 in their backpacks and sledges,” said Faishal, the head of AIDeX expedition.
As planned, AIDex team will head for the summit in 18 to 22 days. They went from Surabaya to Jakarta on May 10th, and then headed to US on May 17th. They will continue trip to Anchorage on May 21st and the ascent will begin on May 26th until 9th June.
Mt. Denali is not the first peak that has been climbed by UKM WANALA member. Previously they had climbed Four of seven highest summit, included, Mt. Cartenz (Indonesia/1994), Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania/2009), Mt. Elbrus (Rusia/2011) and Aconcagua (Argentina/2013).
After Denali, other expedition to Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctic and Mt. Everest in Himalaya will complete the expedition seven summit of UKM WANALA.
Author : Wahyu Nur Wahid (Manager of AIDeX)
Editor: Defrina Sukma S
