Denali Climb-Ski-Packraft

The November 17 Mountaineers meeting will feature a talk by Nicole Matuszynski entitled “Denali Climb-Ski-Packraft with Type 1 Diabetes.”

She will share her experience on a month-long, 130-mile expedition through the Alaska Range, climbing the tallest peak in North America and descending from 20,000 ft back to sea level. She will detail her early-season ascent of Denali via the West Buttress, followed by a ski traverse back to Talkeetna that crossed remote passes and glaciers before transitioning to a packraft journey along the watershed. 

Nicole will discuss the physical and mental challenges of the expedition, including overcoming self-doubt and building confidence in an extreme, remote, and demanding environment. She will also share how she managed Type 1 diabetes throughout the expedition, highlighting the preparation, adaptability, and constant decision-making required to manage an autoimmune condition while traveling through some of Alaska’s most challenging terrain.

Nicole Matuszynski discovered ice climbing, skiing, and drytooling (using ice tools on bare, ice- and snow-free routes) while attending school in Bozeman, Montana. After climbing Mount Rainier in 2022, she fell in love with mountaineering and has since gravitated toward long, endurance-focused objectives. She especially enjoys the challenge of moving through remote terrain for extended periods and continues to seek out adventures that push her both physically and mentally. 

We welcome all to this Mountaineers’ meeting, held on the third Tuesday of the month due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The social hour, with cookies, begins at 6:45 PM and the program at 7:00 PM. The presentation will be in-person at Los Alamos Nature Center; the slides will be live-streamed on Zoom. Registration is required to Zoom and recommended for in-person – we would love to see your smiling face. Registration details are available at https://peecla.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/peecla/event.jsp?event=68360&.