Cuz' there ain't no mountain high enough
Miles Franklin
Issue date: 10/27/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
"The Hill Beyond the Hill: The Story of Mount Denison" is the documentary of the self-organized and successfully completed second ascent of Alaska's Mount Denison in 2007, led by Denison alumni Chris Dickey, '03. Dickey's attraction to the project was shared by three other Denison alumni: Taylor Nissi, '08; Dick McClenahan, '76; and Richard Soaper, '77. The characteristics of Mount Denison, described by Dickey as "not spectacular, volcanic, and not easy to get to," would test the determination of these four men to overcome the mountain that bore the name of their university.
The history and name of Mount Denison begins with the exploration conducted by Kirtly Mather, a 1909 Denison alumnus who was assigned to survey the volcanic region in the upper Aleutian Peninsula in Alaska in 1923. Among one of the many results of that assignment was the official designation of Mount Denison. Mount Denison is the tallest mountain on the Alaskan Aleutian Peninsula. The mountain is a completely snow and ice covered volcano. It is the difficulty of the climb that is the focus of the movie.
The climb to the top of Mount Denison has been attempted more than once. A group in 1977 failed to conquer the mountain when weather stalled them and drained their food supply. Dickey analyzed the failed climbs to make his team's climb more successful. He measured everything from the precise amount of food needed for the duration of the climb to the perfect landing site. "He [Chris Dickey] was the heart and soul and number one fundraiser for the expedition. He does not have a wimpy gene in his body," Richard Soaper said.
The documentary is both powerful and inspiring, showing the group overcoming adversaries from hungry Grizzlies to the unbearable and spiteful weather. They recorded a majority of their trip, showing their everyday moments as they climbed "the hill beyond The Hill." The team struggles against fatigue every step of the way. Even when they sleep, the group is cautious of bears and detrimental weather-things that could either end their climb or, even worse, end their lives.
The documentary, which has been in production since 2007, is finally complete and is scheduled to debut at Denison some time early next month.
The history and name of Mount Denison begins with the exploration conducted by Kirtly Mather, a 1909 Denison alumnus who was assigned to survey the volcanic region in the upper Aleutian Peninsula in Alaska in 1923. Among one of the many results of that assignment was the official designation of Mount Denison. Mount Denison is the tallest mountain on the Alaskan Aleutian Peninsula. The mountain is a completely snow and ice covered volcano. It is the difficulty of the climb that is the focus of the movie.
The climb to the top of Mount Denison has been attempted more than once. A group in 1977 failed to conquer the mountain when weather stalled them and drained their food supply. Dickey analyzed the failed climbs to make his team's climb more successful. He measured everything from the precise amount of food needed for the duration of the climb to the perfect landing site. "He [Chris Dickey] was the heart and soul and number one fundraiser for the expedition. He does not have a wimpy gene in his body," Richard Soaper said.
The documentary is both powerful and inspiring, showing the group overcoming adversaries from hungry Grizzlies to the unbearable and spiteful weather. They recorded a majority of their trip, showing their everyday moments as they climbed "the hill beyond The Hill." The team struggles against fatigue every step of the way. Even when they sleep, the group is cautious of bears and detrimental weather-things that could either end their climb or, even worse, end their lives.
The documentary, which has been in production since 2007, is finally complete and is scheduled to debut at Denison some time early next month.
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