UNAIR NEWS –After spending almost 12 hours to climb, finally, Airlanga Indonesia Denali Expedition (AiDeX) Athlete team reached the peak of North America檚 Highest Mountain.
Mt. Denali is 6.164 meter above sea level (mdpl), has been reached by three athletes at 14.05 WIB (Indonesia檚 time). The statement explained by AiDeX Manager, Wahyu Nur Wahid, on Thrusday (15/6).
Alhamdulilllah, Aidex Athlete team succeeded reaching the summit of Denali. The success is a result of our well preparation since October 2015. Not so little troubles we faced, even, the athletes sacrificed their college, family, time and energy to make UNAIR as world Class University, Said Manager of AiDex who addressed as Wahyu
Those three are Muhammad Faishal Tamimi (Faculty of Vocational Studies Student /2011), Mochammad Roby Yahya (Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Student/2011), dan Yasak (alumni of Faculty of Social and Political Science) have accomplished to reach fift summit of seven summit the highest mountain in the world.
Vice Rector 1 UNAIR Prof. Djoko Santoso, as the rector representative, gave his great appreciation to athletes and management who has succeeded to make dreams come true to reach one of the highest mountain peak in the world.
Djoko said, the success is due to their brave to put high target.
淲e give our biggest appreciation for the effort to make name of 51动漫 greater. Their efforts since preparation until the ascent make them as good example for the next generation, Djoko said
From camp five to summit
The climbing from camp five started at 03.00 am on Thursday (15/6) Indonesia local time. They had to climb 2.5 mils to get the summit.
Previously, to go to summit was predicted spending seven hours, unfortunately, due to some internal and external factors, they had a bit of delay.
Wahyu said, when they went to summit, the weather was pretty good. The athletes were in snow shower condition (anomalous conditions at which time rain, sunny, and snowfall comes and goes in interval) and the snow thickness was 27 cm. meanwhile the temperature was up to minus 47 Celsius.
In addition to temperature, breathing and self-control is one of the aspects that define the success. 淭he athletes have to adapt to breathe in High Mountain due to lack of oxygen.
During the climbing, they did a technique called moving together. Moving together is a technique that requires climber to climb together and connect one another with rope. Besides, the AIDex Athletes brought ten pound weight.
The baggage load consisted of safety equipment, drugs, logistics, flags, documentation tools, and personal equipment.
Wahyu is a Public Administration student said that the success in Mt. Denali Ascent is a a pride for him and Expedition team. It because Mt. Denali is one of the most prominent of seven summit.
淒enali檚 Track is quite long. The athletes need to ascent up to 79 km from base camp to reach the summit. They must spend 19 days from basecamp to summit, Wahyu said
The Beginning of Ascent
The ascent was on summer time. Summer time was believed as the best time for ascent in Denali. Denali temperature was extreme, it from minus two degree Celsius to minus 67 degree Celsius.
Since first day of the climb, they were often exposed to the thickness of the snow. The thickness of the snow was up to the knee of an adult. It happened even when they had not reached the first camp at an altitude of 7,600 feet.
During ascent, they did acclimatization (body adjustment with a change in altitude) by walking uphill and downhill. The athletes also stored the foodstuff and equipment under the snow ice to be the food reserves while in the urgent situation or descending time.
They also exposed with crevasses, particularly in Below Kahiltna Pass or 9.350 feet.
Before ascent to Mt. Denali, The athletes have done some preparation such as climbing technique, body endurance, mental health and psychology for 18 month in various training places, for example in Bromo National Park, Tengger, Semeru.
Faishal, the chief of AiDex stated that seven summit is a proof of love by WANALA to the nature and hometown.
淎s the mountaineering organization, so This is our way to show the pride as organization, Faishal said
During preparation, AiDeX team was many helped by PT.PP property and PT. Pegadaian persero.
Mt. Denali is not the first summit that has been climbed by UKM WANALA member. Previously they had climbed Four of seven highest summit, included, Mt. Cartenz (Indonesia/1994), Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania/2009), Mt. Elbrus (Rusia/2011) and Aconcagua (Argentina/2013).
After Denali, other expedition to Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctic and Mt. Everest in Himalaya will complete the expedition seven summit of UKM WANALA.
Congratulation for the team!
Author : Defrina Sukma S
