Denali 2026 Coverage: Podcast with Summiteer – John Bartolic
The Denali 2026 season is well underway, with a dated climber report as of June 1, 2026, of 513 climbers, mainly on the West Buttress route. 97 climbers have completed their trips, and 381 are left to check in and begin their climbs. One team that did summit was one from American Alpine Institute and Summit Coach client, John Bartlic
John, a Southwest Airlines pilot living in Dallas, Texas, is relatively new to mountaineering, with a Rainier summit last year and a Pico de Orizaba summit a few months ago. His next includes Kilimanjaro and Everest. We discussed everything from motivation, training, gear, clothing and weather to logistics and had a special remembrance of Mayor Stubbs of Talkeetna, Alaska, who died in 2017. I met Stubbs in 2007 on a climb. #Denali2026
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Live from Denali Summit with Garrett Madison
Live from Denali Summit with Garrett Madison in a season of the lowest summit numbers in history from the summit of Denali on June 14, 2025. It’s been a very cold year, as documented by the Rangers: # Denali 2025
Rainier 2015: Summit and Fun
This trip report is for my climb of Mt. Rainier in Washington State, Washington. At 14,409 feet, it is the highest volcano in the lower 48 states of the US and the most popular way of training for higher Himalayan peaks. I summited with friends on July 8, 2015. I rolled over in my sleeping […]
Rainier Summit Trip Report 2012
My July 2012 climb of Mt. Rainier was unique and complex, representing the best human spirit and a mountaineer’s courage. I know—that is quite the setup. Rainier, located in Washington State just outside Seattle, is a jewel for US mountaineering. It has more glaciers, around 26 than any other US peak and one of the […]
Rainier Summit Trip Report 2004
After two “non-summit” years on Everest, I was down and wanted a summit. I contacted new and old friends about a Rainier climb, and the Rainier 9 was born. We trained together and virtually for a year to prepare; for many of the team, this would be their first true snow climb. Since we signed […]
Rainier Home
Summited July 10, 2004, July 31, 2012 and July 8, 2015. Washington State, US: Mt. Rainier (14,411’/4392) I have summited Rainier three times, in 2004, 2012, and 2015, summiting through different routes. Overview The National Park Service (NPS) has stopped publishing detailed statistics for Rainer, so this is the latest available. Mount Rainier National Park […]
Rainier FAQ
About Mt. Rainier The National Park Service (NPS) has stopped publishing detailed statistics for Rainer, so this is the latest available. Q: Where is Mt. Rainier? A: Rainier National Park in Washington State, US. It is a popular North American climb, with 10,000 attempts each year. The nearest major city is Seattle, and the major […]
Denali FAQ
These are FAQ from my three Denali climbs
Denali Home
North America: Denali (20,320’/6194m) Denali is the native American name for the mountain. In 1980, in honor of President McKinley, the National Park Service named the surrounding park Denali National Park. In 2015, the mountain’s name was officially changed to Denali. It is in central Alaska – 300 miles South of the Arctic Circle and […]
Denali 2011 Trip Report
My third attempt on Denali, the highest in North America as part of my 7 Summmits for Alzheimer’s campaign in 2011.