Mount Kennedy Climbing notes shared by Mountain-Forecast users

  • January 26, 2012
    Paul Dornisch from United States

    My wife (Jano) and I, along with Mark Ledel and Matt Hoggard, climbed Mount Kennedy via the West Ridge on May 14, 1983. The climb is a straight forward glacier climb from a base camp on the Cathedral Glacier. We skied out to the Alaska Highway after our climb, but you could ski/snowshoe in if you wanted to save the cost of a bush flight ($1100.00 one way in '83 for four people). This area is an avalanche wonderland, so stay clear of the walls shedding hanging glaciers. The weather can also be a huge issue. We had no problems with it, but we were fortunate during our 19 day expedition. The area is spectacular and is loaded with unclimbed minor peaks.

    We camped at the Arctic Institute airfield on the shore of Kluane Lake while we waited a long week for the weather to clear for our flight in to the Park. We also later discovered that Jano Dornisch was the first American woman to climb Mount Kennedy, which we thought was pretty cool! I have been on many trips in my life, and the Saint Elias Range is one of my favorites of all time.