Since 1913, 92 of those who attempted to climb this cold, stormy peak have died. Still, each year, between May and July, Denali attracts some 1,200 climbers from points around the globe.

“Native Alaskans were calling it Denali for thousands of years before anybody else came here. In the climbing community, it’s almost universal—I almost never hear anybody call it McKinley.

“Native Alaskans were calling it Denali for thousands of years before anybody else came here. In the climbing community, it’s almost universal—I almost never hear anybody call it McKinley.

Denali is also pivotal to the climbing community. On average, about 1,000 eager climbers attempt to summit the mountain each year, traversing unforgiving Alaskan terrain and several sheer drops.