“From here, it’s going to be easy.” Ryan Wichelns and Gabe Messercola repeated this phrase throughout their 21 day expedition in Denali National Park in 2015. From crossing scree-covered glaciers, to traversing ridgelines and downclimbing icy cliffs, to fording waist-deep rivers, Alaska taught these young mountaineers a lesson in making and letting go of plans.

See an overview of their route.

Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain & Nis Kotto  •  Jaco 2 by Bradley Carter  •  Indian Summer by John Berry  •  Somnolence by Kai Engel  •  Scenery by Kai Engel  •  Lake Rise by John Berry  •  July by Kai Engel  •  Delivered by Brendan O’Connell  •  Tracks provided by Free Music Archive or with permission from the artists.