[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SIGNIFICANT ALASKA MILESTONE

 Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, Mark Stasik and Daryl Miller, of 
Talkeetna, recently achieved a great distinction in our State of 
Alaska--they endured a 45 day, 350 mile circumnavigation of the Denali 
and Foraker massifs, in Winter, on foot. Along the way, the men crossed 
four remote mountain passes, traveled approximately 100 miles on 16 
glaciers, 80 miles on rugged and diverse, high mountainous terrain, 115 
miles on frozen rivers, creeks, and lakes, and 55 miles amidst dense 
boreal forest. There was an estimated elevation gain and loss of 60,000 
feet, the equivalent of two Mt. Everests. The two men also encountered 
temperatures as low as 60 degrees below zero and winds up to 100 mph, 
while carrying 150 pounds of gear per person.
  This expedition not only shows the personal strength and perseverance 
of these Alaskans, but it also provided scientific and educational data 
for the Denali National Park. This was the first expedition of this 
kind. I am sure the family and friends of Mark and Daryl are very proud 
of their achievement.
   Mr. President, I ask that an article entitled ``Off The Couch'' from 
the Climbing Magazine be printed in the Record.
  The article follows:

             [From Climbing Magazine, June 15-Aug. 1, 1995]

    Off the Couch--Talkeetna Locals Complete Grand Circumnavigation

       Leaving from their couches in downtown Talkeetna, the 
     Alaska Range veterans Mark Stasik and Daryl Miller endured a 
     45-day, 350 mile circumnavigation of the Denali and Foraker 
     massifs--a first in winter. Calculating an elevation gain/
     loss of 60,000 feet for the trip, Stasik and Miller 
     experienced expectedly horrendous conditions, including 60-
     below temperatures and 100 mph winds. They also weathered a 
     tent fire, a fall through river ice, the loss of their maps, 
     and three days of travel without food or fuel. The 
     routefinding involved crossing four remote mountain passes, 
     100 miles over 16 glaciers, 115 miles along (usually) frozen 
     rivers, creeks, and lakes, 80 miles of rugged mountain 
     terrain, and 55 miles of dense boreal forest undergrowth--all 
     while toting sleds and packs weighing in at 150 pounds per 
     person. The extremes of terrain and conditions savaged their 
     equipment: Miller broke two ski bindings, and then his skis, 
     then both of his snowshoes, before borrowing Stasik's backup 
     pair. ``It was a product tester's wet dream,'' says Stasik.
       Stasik and Miller share a great deal of Alaskan experience, 
     with 14 Denali expeditions between them, numerous other 
     backcountry trips, and involvement in search-and-rescue 
     operations. Having seen the yearly circus of climbers on 
     Denali, many unprepared for and disrespectful of the dangers, 
     Stasik and Miller hope to make a statement with their 
     expedition. ``It was important for us to strip down to the 
     rawest elements, to show how locals could do it, on foot, off 
     the couch, and out the back door, to assimilate the 
     experience into an everyday frame of reference, without it 
     needing to become a Spandex production,'' says Stasik. ``All 
     this hype and lionization of climbing has gotten to be a tad 
     much.''

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