Cathedral Mountains 2001

The main glacier basin of the Cathedral Mountains in the very remote western fringe of Central Alaska is unnamed and virtually unvisited, so it offered plenty of scope for this strong team to make first ascents. Despite the worst July for many years, with rain most afternoons/evenings, (and 'clouds' of mosquitoes) all the peaks on the east side of the glacier were climbed in one long traverse which, with other climbs, made a total of 18 probable first ascents. In addition, the highest and only peak in the area known to have been previously climbed, Pt. 8500 (aka Mount Beckey) c.2,591m, received its second and third ascents by new routes. The team (which seems to have survived on gallons of tea) warns future visitors to the area that a satellite telephone is essential if communication with the outside world is to be maintained.