The Mountain Within

Before the summit attempts or glacier hauls, Jane Churchill began her Denali expedition with a journal—part of her capstone at Prince William Sound College, where mindset mattered as much as mileage.
The journey began in Talkeetna, Alaska, as the team prepared to fly—weather permitting—to Denali Base Camp. A slow, demanding climb would follow.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Jane said. “You’re not just along for the ride—you’re learning every step of the way.”
She trained hard: sled drags, 55-pound packs, and winter camping.
“You have to train like it’s the real thing… because when we get out there, it is.”
This first entry, written just before the flight to Base Camp, captures the emotional weight of waiting—and the challenge of simply beginning.

The Mountain Within — Part 1: The Starting Point
Before Jane and her teammates ever set foot on the glacier, they faced the first reality of mountaineering: the weather decides.
“When I arrived in Talkeetna on May 18th, the sun was shining, and spirits were high. After training and preparing all year, it was time to do our final gear check and then depart the next morning… for base camp.”
But instead of flying out, they waited. And waited.
“Right at the beginning of our trip, we would learn just how dictating weather is in the mountaineering world.”
Two days of delay meant time spent pacing the airstrip, making friends, and playing hacky sack.
“The constant state of anticipation was exhausting, and our team was definitely growing restless… But patience is a virtue when climbing mountains, and it was something that we would learn before even touching snow.”
Finally, on May 21st, they flew in. Jane rode in the co-pilot seat — and let it all sink in.
“I sat in the co-pilot seat and sobbed the entire ride in… I couldn’t believe it was actually happening.”
“There were insanely beautiful mountains to behold in every direction… It felt so surreal to be in such a remote location with so many other people who all shared the same passion and stoke for adventure.”

The Mountain Within — Part 2: The Shift
The journey officially began with a haul to Camp 1, just a few hundred feet above Base Camp — but a world away in effort.
“We awoke the next day and set out for Camp 1… The walk was long and brutal.”
The team carried about 120 pounds each, split between packs and sleds.
“Although the morning started out with cool temperatures, we were soon walking in nearly 80-degree heat, as the sun beat down on our backs and reflected back onto our faces from the glacier.”
After five hot, exhausting hours, they reached camp. From there, they had a perfect view of Denali’s looming presence.

“We had the rest of the night to sunbathe, set up camp, and take in The Great One, perfectly visible beyond the Valley of Death—a treacherous stretch of crevasses and glaciers squeezed between sheer mountain faces capped with overhanging seracs. Beautiful to look at, but something we would definitely never attempt.”

The team spent the next day resting in the sun, reading, and watching avalanches fall from the surrounding slopes.
Then came the biggest push yet: a 10-hour climb to Camp 3 at 11,500 feet.
“We climbed around 3,000 ft over the course of 4 miles… breathing became laborious.”
Camp buzzed with people from all over the world, creating an atmosphere Jane called “infectious.”
“We watched people kill time by skiing down Squirrel Hill into camp, and listened to the sound of mixing cultures and languages as we boiled water for our dinner.”
But early the next morning, plans changed. A teammate suffered a hand injury.
“Although the cut wasn’t life-threatening, it warranted stitches… Our best move was to return to Base Camp — avoiding things like infection and reopening of the wound.”
“So on May 25th… we tore down camp and made the 9-mile trek back.”

The Mountain Within — Part 3: The Return
Jane didn’t reach the summit, but she doesn’t consider the trip unfinished.
“Although the expedition was cut short, there was no contempt within our group.”
The decision to leave early wasn’t simple, but it was right.
“Being able to make hard decisions is a part of the expedition process… There is no written rule book with black and white answers.”
“Returning home safely was always our goal, way before summiting or making it to a certain point on the mountain.”
Instead of disappointment, Jane came away proud of the work it took to get there, and of her team’s trust in each other.
“I’m so proud of all of the effort that went into making this trip possible, and our team’s ability to communicate openly and effectively… I feel so privileged to have been able to experience Denali’s West Buttress.”
And as for what’s next?
“This trip is only the beginning of the many adventures that have yet to come — and what an awesome beginning it was.”