Denali Climbing Facts and Trivia

Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is the highest peak in North America, towering at 20,237 feet. It is located in one of the coldest mountain ranges, where temperatures can plummet to -100°F. Most visitors experience Denali from a National Park Service bus, but over a thousand climbers attempt to reach its summit annually, with less than 70% succeeding. The journey begins in the Alaskan town of Tela, where climbers are flown to the Denali base camp at 7,200 feet. Here, they prepare for the challenging ascent of 13,000 vertical feet to the summit, which boasts the largest base-to-peak rise of any mountain in the world.

What is the height of Denali, the highest peak in North America?

• 18,000 ft

• 19,500 ft

• 20,237 ft

• 22,000 ft

What is the temperature range that can be experienced on Denali?

• Up to 60°F below zero

• Up to 50°F below zero

• Up to 100°F below zero

• Up to 75°F below zero

What percentage of climbers successfully reach the summit of Denali each year?

• Less than 50%

• More than 90%

• About 80%

• Less than 70%

Where does the journey to climb Denali begin?

• Fairbanks

• Anchorage

• Tela

• Juneau

What is the primary mode of transportation for climbers to reach the glaciers near Denali?

• Helicopters

• Ski planes

• Snowmobiles

• Dog sleds

What is the unique feature of the landing strip at Denali base camp?

• It is on a frozen lake

• It is on a sandy beach

• It is on a moving glacier

• It is on a rocky plateau

How many vertical feet do climbers ascend from the base camp to the summit of Denali?

• 10,000 ft

• 12,000 ft

• 15,000 ft

• 13,000 ft

What is the significance of Denali's base to peak rise?

• It is the highest in the world

• It is the highest in North America

• It is the second highest in North America

• It is the second highest in the world