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Operation Denali shifted into high gear, June 1, 2009, as the team of four combat-wounded veterans, two peer mentors and a guide set out to conquer Mount McKinley, also known as "The High One,"and “Denali” because it’s located in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Reserve.
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Wounded Warriors Reach Mount McKinley Peak

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2009 – Two wounded warriors reached the highest peak in North America on June 16, but their summit of Mount McKinley was bittersweet as three of their teammates had to turn back.
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Wounded Soldier Seeks to Fulfill Long-time Dream David Shebib

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2009 – A soldier who was wounded in Iraq is looking for closure for his injuries and a new starting point for his life this week as part of a team attempting to scale North America’s highest peak.
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Wounded Soldier Seeks to Fulfill Long-time Dream Matt Nyman

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2009 - Before he was wounded in Iraq while serving in the Army as a special operations soldier, Matt Nyman's life revolved around family and outdoor activities. Now, despite having lost his right leg below the knee, he's planning on fulfilling a long-time dream as he tries to conquer North America's highest peak.
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Wounded Veteran Hopes to Inspire Others in Mountain Quest Jon Kuniholm

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2009 – The loss of his right arm while serving in Iraq made something as simple as eating a challenge for retired Marine Capt. Jonathan F. Kuniholm, who recently set out with three other wounded veterans to conquer Mount McKinley.
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West Point Grad Leads Charge on Denali Despite Combat Injuries Marc Hoffmeister

WASHINGTON, June 2, 2009 – Summiting the highest peak in North America, will make Marc Hoffmeister’s other challenges, like earning his commission as an Army officer by graduating from West Point, seem like a mole hill, by comparison.
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Denali Promises a Challenge for Anyone Who Attempts the Climb

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2009 - Today marks the start of a monumental challenge for four wounded veterans, their two mentors and one guide, as they move from the base of the mountain in Alaska's Denali National Park to the mountain's base camp at an elevation of 6,850 feet. Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, challenges anyone so bold as to try to conquer its peak, some 20,320 feet into the Alaskan sky.
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On June 1, 2009, four wounded veterans, their two mentors and one guide, began a quest to climb Mount McKinley, also known as Denali. On June 16, two of the four completed the climb to the summit, a bittersweet moment since three teammates had to turn back early. DoD photo by Army Lt. Col. Marc Hoffmeister
On June 1, 2009, four wounded veterans, their two mentors and one guide, began a quest to climb Mount McKinley, also known as Denali. On June 16, two of the four completed the climb to the summit, a bittersweet moment since three teammates had to turn back early. DoD photo by Army Lt. Col. Marc Hoffmeister
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Marc Hoffmeister


June 11, 2009

Right now we are camped at 14,200 feet. We are taking a full rest day today to prepare for our move up to high camp. More

June 9, 2009

Today, we just did our pack carry, and we recovered a cache from down by Windy Corner at 13,500 feet. So we have all our gear up here. More

June 5, 11:08 p.m.

MT. MCKINLEY - We’re at Camp 3 at 11,000 feet. Yesterday we decided to change schedule and we moved the full 3,200 feet and … set up camp. More

June 3, 2009

We flew in on the first and we spent the night at Base Camp and then yesterday we pushed out early and did the about 5-and-a-half, six miles up to our 7,800 [foot] camp. More

    Timeline
  • 15-18 Jun 09
    Day 15, 16, 17, 18 Summit days, distance: 4 miles, elevation gain: 3120’.
  • 19-Jun-09
    Day 19 Return to 14,200 feet or 11,000’, distance: 2.25 miles.
  • 20-Jun-09
    Day 20 Return to Base Camp, 7,200’, distance: 11.25 miles.
  • 21-Jun-09
    Day 21 Fly back to Talkeetna.
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