In 1909, “The Sourdough Expedition” claimed to have climbed 19,000 feet up Mr. McKinley, now “Denali”. Their claim was discounted because they used no oxygen, had no previous mountaineering experience and had undertaken the climb as a bet. A subsequent expedition, in 1913, did find their flagpole on the North summit and thus verified this triumph of determination over technology. “Don’t forget the flagpole!”
In 1909, “The Sourdough Expedition” claimed to have climbed 19,000 feet up Mr. McKinley, now “Denali”. Their claim was discounted because they used no oxygen, had no previous mountaineering experience and had undertaken the climb as a bet. A subsequent expedition, in 1913, did find their flagpole on the North summit and thus verified this triumph of determination over technology. “Don’t forget the flagpole!”