On June 14, Chantel Astorga made a solo ascent of the Cassin Ridge on Denali, Alaska. She followed the famous line set in 1961 by an Italian expedition led by Riccardo Cassin. Afterward, the U.S. alpinist skied down the West Rib and Seattle Ramp.
She reached the summit at 8 pm after a 14 hour and 39 minute climb. It takes most climbers three to seven days to climb the 6,194m peak.
“My longtime vision and dream became a reality,” Astorga said after the climb. “Good ski conditions down the West Rib/Seattle Ramp (upper RHS of lead photo) and powder turns down the SW Face apron.”
Astorga has made other notable ascents of Denali. In 2018, she and Anne Gilbert Chase became the first all-women team to climb the Slovak Direct, and just the ninth party overall. In 2015, she and Jewel Lund became the first all-women team to climb the Denali Diamond.
Photo: Chantel Astorga
