Alone at the Top is Grand Marais adventurer Lonnie Dupre’s latest book—this one describes his harrowing account of becoming the first person to solo climb Mount Denali in the bleakest, darkest, coldest time of the year, January.
After three failed attempts, Dupre, then 53, summited North America’s tallest mountain alone in 2015, fighting through fatigue, loneliness, and darkness, narrowly escaping the fatal clutch of crevasses, often huddled in small snow caves knowing that any mishap would leave him with no chance to be rescued.
Lonnie wrote this book with Pam Louwagie, an award-winning Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter.
After five days stuck in one spot, low on food, and 19 hours in his sleeping bag, a freezing Dupre writes, “After finally summoning the strength to slide into my clothes, I headed outside to brush snow off the tent.
“The snow is blowing so hard when I’m uncovering the tent that it nearly suffocates me…The fine particles seem to get in my nose and mouth, ears…Between December 30 and 31, the tent has been completely buried five times already.”
A raven traveled with him for much of the way, keeping him company on this barren mountain, but also at one point, stealing precious food from one of his stashes.
At his darkest moment Dupre writes, “I would call mom, I would call my dad, and I would thank them. This is what I have chosen for my life. I’ve had a great life, and I want to thank you for that,” I’d tell them. “Do not mourn. Try to celebrate what I have done.”
There is also a personal note to his son, Jacob, where he expresses regrets for not being there for him as he was growing up. But on January 11, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, an emotional Dupre was standing at the top of the mountain.
This telling, this recount, is filled with the dangers and raw, stunning beauty that Dupre experienced and witnessed on his journey. It is taken from his journal entries and recordings he made as he scaled the 20,350-foot peak, as well as from his memories.
Following his account of conquering the mountain, Dupre adds a section describing how to keep one’s feet warm at minus 60F, how much weight to carry on an expedition, and recipes that will help give oneself calories, energy, and necessary nutrition to sustain oneself on a rigorous outdoor adventure.
All in all it’s a great read with nothing held back.
The book is published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press an can be purchased locally at the Lake Superior Trading Post, Birchbark Books and Drury Lane bookstore.
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