Ascent of Denali

Though born and raised in England explorer HUDSON STUCK (1865-1920) epitomized the adventurous New World spirit of the American West at its closing. Drawn by the wide-open spaces Stuck an Episcopal priest and champion of a rugged brand of muscular Christianity volunteered in 1904 to serve as the archdeacon of the Yukon; his spiritual domain encompassed 250000 square miles of interior Alaska. Here he achieved international fame by leading the first successful expedition in 1913 to scale the highest peak in North America: Mount McKinley though Stuck long a defender of native culture insisted on calling it by its Indian name Denali. In this 1914 book Stuck regales us with his dramatic account of the journey from the dangers posed by sudden storms to the beauty of the glaciers from the unexpected setbacks-like the fire that swept through their gear-to the infinite attractiveness of the challenge. Armchair travelers and lovers of extreme sports alike will thrill to this exciting tale. ALSO AVAILABLE FROM COSIMO: Stucks Ten Thousand Miles with a Dog Sled