Mike Haugen's Alaska Adventure!
In June, Coleman spokesperson and product tester Mike Haugen headed to Alaska for two attempts on North America's highest peak: one up the West Buttress route and the other on the Cassin ridge, to the 20,000-foot summit of Mt. McKinley.
For the first leg, Mike and his climbing crew assembled in Talkeetna, Alaska, and flew in ski planes to the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier. Each team member then carried more than 100 pounds of food and gear in backpacks and drag-behind sleds, working their way to high camp just above 17,000 feet. The challenges of the West Buttress route are altitude, crevasses and some of the worst weather in the world due to McKinley's altitude and proximity to the ocean - but the team successfully summitted and made it back to Talkeetna in time for Mike 
to meet his next climbing partners and prepare for their climb up the Japanese Couloirs route on the Cassin Ridge.
The Japanese Couloirs is one of the most sought-after alpine routes, involving steep granite rock and ice over 8,000 feet. Fortunately for us, Mike and his climbing partners provided us with a video documentary of the expedition. Don't miss this in-on-the-action look at a classic and challenging climb.
