Our Swiss Guide Conquers Denali

Carla Huele will lead her first Canyon Calling Swiss Alps trip in June.  She and her boyfriend have just returned from conquering Denali in Alaska.  Here is Carla’s account of their climb:

On 17 April, an Air Taxi flew us in to the Alaska Range, a spectacular flight.  Climbing Denali involves huge amounts of equipment and food.  We had 260lbs between the two of us, mostly food for 25 days.  We used sleds to haul everything up the mountain.  Most people who climb Denali by the West Buttress route make 5 camps.  We acclimated in Camp 4 which is in a big glacier basin at 14,200 feet, the perfect place to rest.  Since the weather was stormy we built an igloo and shared dinners with our three new friends, a German, an American and a Kiwi.  We flew in at the start of the climbing season and felt very privileged to have the mountain to ourselves. Right in time for our summit attempt the weather started improving and allowed us to move up to Camp 5 at 17,200 feet. Waking up the next morning the tent was flapping, but the weather was clear and not too cold, so we set off for the summit.  Once we had left the camp the wind kept dropping and we arrived on the summit in a slight breeze, perfect sunshine and we rewarded with panoramic views. We couldn’t believe what a gentle side the mountain, that’s known as the coldest mountain in the world, was showing us.  Once we had mastered the right technique to ski down the mountain without the sled continuously barrel rolling behind us, descending the mountain was quick and easy.  After 17 nights camping in the snow the thought of fresh food, beer, comfortable beds and showers spurred us on and before we knew it, we were back in Talkeetna talking the talk of the mountains.

Upcoming Trip Availability

Peruvian Andes, leaves this Friday, May 15 – Closed
Best of the West, June 3 – 12 – Closed
Swiss Alps, June 19 – 28 – 3 seats available
Canadian Rockies, July 25 – 31, 4 seats available
Tetons – Yellowstone, August 8 – 13, 6 seats available
Desert Mountain Escape, August 23 – 29, wide open

2009 Fall Trips – all wide open

Sept 2 – 11                 Best of the West                        
Sept 26 – Oct 2         Hawaiian Islands                                
Oct 8 – 21                   Australia, See it All!                            
Oct 26 – 30                 Sedona Sojourn                                 
Nov 7 – 13                  Costa Rican Explorer     

2010 – Some departures announced

Jan 23 – 29                Hawaiian Islands                       
Feb 5 – 19                  New Zealand                              
Feb 21 – Mar 7          New Zealand (Co-ed)               
Mar 18 - 22                 Aurora Alaska                                      
Apr 5 - 9                      Sedona Sojourn                                 
Apr 20 – May 1          Magic Morocco                                             
May 14 – 24               Peruvian Andes                                                    
June 2 – 10               Best of the West                            

In Memoriam – Jackie Coyle

Jackie Coyle passed away last week after losing an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer.  She was a good friend of Canyon Calling and travelled with us on the Desert Mountain trip, Tetons – Yellowstone and to Australia in 2005.  Many of you will be familiar with this fabulous photo of Jackie holding the koala, which we’ve used in our marketing over the years.  She was great fun to travel with, always the jokester ready for a laugh.  My favorite memory will always be her Priscilla Queen of the Desert impersonation in the Outback – complete with fly-net hanging from her hat! 

Jackie was a dedicated ER nurse from PA and those of us on the Tetons trip will remember how excited she was at being chosen as an extra for the movie “Girl Interrupted.”  She played a nurse – how perfect. Our sincere condolences go to her children Kristen and James.  If you knew Jackie, here is the link to the family guestbook: http://caringbridge.org/visit/jacquelinecoyle

Kayaks and Hot Springs on the Colorado River

While out exploring in our own back yard recently we enjoyed a wonderful overnight kayak trip near Las Vegas.  We launched our kayak below Hoover Dam with the help of long time river gal Helen Howard.  Outfitted with a map detailing all the great places, we set out to explore.  First stop was perfectly named, sauna cave – and what a view!  But it was too hot inside in May – better suited to February.  Up Gold Strike Canyon we found two delicious hot pools and spent a good hour there.  Then three miles down the river was the highlight of the trip – Arizona Hot Springs.  A short five-minute walk from the river brings you to a ladder so you can negotiate the necessary climb up a waterfall.  And then behold – a magical couple of pools damned by sandbags in a twelve-foot wide slot canyon.  Wow, whoda thunk!  They are naturally irrigated, pristinely clean and a perfect 95 degrees.  We were so happy that we’d included camping gear to make the most of this magical place.  We ended up making three visits to the pools throughout that day and evening.  And, by way of contrast, we had the 55 degree Colorado to jump into during the heat of the day!  The next morning the Colorado River was like a lake as no dam release occurs until 9am.  Our nine-mile paddle to the take-out was idyllic.  The early morning light on the canyon walls, the big horn sheep as sentinels watching us pass - the quiet. Bliss.

It’s not too late to sign up for trips with us this summer

Happy Trails,
Cheryl Fleet
Founder, Canyon Calling