ICONS | The Denali Damsels

All photos via ArleneBlum.com.

The Denali Damsels were the first all-female group to summit Alaska's Mt. McKinley, a.k.a. Denali, the highest peak in North America (20,320 ft.). They completed their mission in 1970, but it all started with Arlene Blum and an advertisement for a guided climb of the South Buttress of Mt. McKinley that she read much earlier:

"...Inquiries from women interested in joining the McKinley party at base and advanced base and willing to assist in cooking chores are invited. Special rates are available. They will not be admitted on the climbs however..."

Blum's reaction:

"Being a poor cook, my reaction to receiving the above advertisement was to fill my pack with bricks and go running around Berkeley hill. To Denali I would go."




Blum's other climbs, including her summit of Mt. Everest are all well-documented, visit her site for her compelling stories of climbing the world's tallest mountains, including Denali.