Wilderness of Denali 100: Skis to Snowshoes- Day 1

Here we are at the start of Willie's 70 day journey and my 10 mile journey. Very quickly we had a problem. It was 35 degrees above zero (which was GREAT for me) and Willie couldn't get the sled going with his skis on-- it was "sticky" snow. So, he had to change to snowshoes right away. After the change of gear, we were off to start the journey together.

Charles Sheldon

Sheldon, Belmore Browne, Teddy Roosevelt and others are credited with being the primary founders of Mt McKinley National Park. The name was changed to Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. The best introduction i have ever read about Sheldon is from "The Wilderness of the Southwest, Charles Sheldon's Quest for Desert Bighorn Sheep and Adventures with the Havasupai and Seri Indians" which was edited by Neil B. Carmony and David E. Brown. If you have any interest in the life of Sheldon this is a must read.

Charles Sheldon, a condensed Biography by Tom Walker

Sheldon, the oldest of six siblings, was born on October 17, 1867, into a hard-working family involved in marble quarrying and manufacturing. Sheldon, named for his grandfather, attended Andover preparatory school and graduated from Yale in 1890, the year the family business collapsed. Through family contacts, he was hired as assistant superintendent of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. From there, he moved to Mexico and became general manager of the Chihuahua and Pacific Railroad in 1898, the same year as the Klondike stampede. He invested in the Chihuahua and Pacific Exploration Company, developers of Potasi, one of the richest silver and lead mines in Mexico. In just four short years, this investment secured Sheldon’s financial future and he retired at age 35.

Sheldon’s conservation career began in 1904, when he contacted C. Hart Merriam and Edward W. Nelson of the U.S. Biological Survey and offered to collect specimens and make field observations. Sheldon, a life-long hunter and fisherman, pursued all manner of wildlife but North America’s wild mountain sheep fascinated him most. He first hunted desert sheep in Mexico’s Sierra Madre and then pursued bighorns in the Rocky Mountains. Stories of the so-called thinhorn sheep of the northern wilderness attracted his attention and in 1904, he hunted and studied Stone sheep in Canada’s Yukon. His first book, The Wilderness of the Upper Yukon, detailed his sheep hunting exploits in the Yukon Territory in 1904 and 1905.

His love of these “noble and splendid” animals eventually led him to Alaska in search of Dall sheep, then the least known of the four species of America’s wild sheep. In late June 1906, Sheldon reached Dawson City in the Yukon, en route to Alaska and the range near Mt. McKinley.

Sheldon's social circle included the so-called American Royalty. His friends included Theodore Roosevelt, George Bird Grinnell, Gifford Pinchot, Carl Rungius, Wilfred H. Osgood, Alexander Graham Bell, and Admiral Richard Byrd.

On February 24, 1917, Presiden Wilson signed into law Senate Bill 5716, A Bill to Establish a Mount McKinley National Park, in the Territory of Alaska. largely the handiwork of Charles Sheldon and Belmore Browne.

Sheldon was anything but a conservation dilettante. Throughout his adult life, he campaigned for protection of migratory birds, forests, and parks. At one time or another, he served on the boards of directors of the Boone and Crockett Club, National Parks Association, American Forestry Association, and National Geographic Society. He was a member of the Explorers Club, American Ornithological Union, and the New York Zoological Society, all organized and dominated by influential and wealthy eastern sportsmen. With Teddy Roosevelt in the White House until 1909, and a force long afterward, these groups enjoyed immense influence.

After Charles Sheldon died on September 21, 1928, in Nova Scotia, the story of his McKinley adventures was edited by C. Hart Merriam and Edward Nelson and posthumously published by his wife as Wilderness of Denali. "He was a man of much force and determination and possessed a great devotion to the right,” wrote George Grinnell, "a strong common sense in pushing forward good measures."

Research and Daily Projects

Bird observations and recording
Daily minimum and maximum temperature recording
Dall Sheep observations and recording
Photo comparison and documentation shots from same locations from which Sheldon took his photos 100 years earlier. The attempt will be made to take the photos on the exact day and from the exact spot Sheldon did.
Satellite monitoring at 11pm each night
Snow depth recording in both open tundra and protected spruce forest
Soundscape Monitoring
Trash removal from Toklat River bar
Wildlife tracking and recording

Food List: The menu is based on 1.5 pounds of food per day.

Gear List... clothes, supplies, living stuff...this is an ongoing list, much not listed yet

2 gallon bucket for melting ice/snow for drinking water
3 Caribou hides for the tent floor
3 gallon bucket for washing clothes
3 leather journals, had Apocalypse Design make a custom pocket to put on the belt of my backpack to allow easy access
4 all weather research journals, pencils
4 Expedition and Mid weight Patagonia Zip neck top XL, (1) Smartwool zip neck top
6 gallons white gas
Arctic Mukluks by Steger, size 13 double wide, 3 pairs felt insoles
Arctic Oven Tent made by Alaska Tent and Tarp
Atlas 1033 snowshoes
Axe fiberglass long handle
Bahco Force bow saw 24", extra blade
Bailing Wire small roll
Beaver and leather hat
Beaver gloves loaned from Laura Cole, thanks heaps Laura
Black & Decker LED headlamp
Brazilian Wooden Spoons (my musical instruments!)
Bunny Boots size 11, game time decision whether i bring these or not.
Copy of Bible
Copy of Gandhi, an Autibiography
Copy of Qur'an
Copy of The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Wisdom
Copy of Wilderness of Denali
Cylinder Scout Stove w/ warming tray, 4" stovepipe, spark arrestor, damper
Duct tape 1 roll
Firewood, lots
First Aid kit, extensive
Fischer Ultra Air touring skis, Riva cable bindings, metal edges, loaned from Mike Speaks, thanks Speaks
Fleece Pants with full side zips, double knees, double butt, suspenders, made by Apocalypse Design, Fairbanks
Fleece vest heavyweight
Headband, Apocalypse Design, Fairbanks
Knit cap, 100% wool
Leather 3 pin ski boots, Fabiano?, size 45 or about an 11
Leather gloves
Leatherman tool, the Wave (i use it everyday...)
LED Indigo Lantern, hand crank, Freeplay Energy for Life
Liner wool gloves
Marmot Alpinist Jacket XL
Marmot Backpack, Terraplane L with XL belt – biggest belt to accommodate layers
Marmot Expedition Weight Bottoms Extra Large
Marmot Mid Weight Bottoms Extra Large
Marmot prototype Alpinist Bib XXL – to accommodate extra layers
Marmot Randonnee Mitt XL - to allow heavier liner glove
Marmot Sleeping Bag, Prototype COL -30 overstuff Long
Marmot Super Hero Balaclava
Midweight (2) Patagonia Zip neck top XL
Mountain Hardwear Down Jacket
OR Gaitors, Gore-Tex, full velcro
Parbat Mountaineering camp booties
Plastic gear sled
REI Gore-Tex pants, full side zips, L tall
Sewing kit
Silk short sleeve XL undershirt
Ski kit, Swix red, blue & green, base binder, scrapers, cork
Smartwool zip neck top 100% wool
Speedy Sticher, Awl
Swix Nordic ski poles
Whisper Lite stove (2) with repair kit
Wool Sweater, black army issue (same one Magneto wore in the X-Men movie!)

Great Friends, Supporters, & Wise Sages

Brad and Brenda Ebel, thanks so much for your encouragement and the wood, i'll be keepin' warm cuz of you!!!
Bruce Lee and Geralyn Hath, thanks for the use of the caribou hides, counsel and great contact, score!
Carl Malatin and Jilly Boelsma, thanks so much for the Speedy Sticher/Awl and for the lesson on how to use it. This is a wonderful gift, thank you.
Carol McIntyre, thanks for your friendship, patience, and for getting our Birds in order
Christine Karidis, your unconditional love and support fuels me each day and will only make me stronger as the days go on, you are the Love of my Life...
Dave Bolton, dude, your van worked great, thanks!
Debbie and Mark Moderow, your encouragement and ideas early on helped me tremendously to map out the trip, thanks so much
Denali Education Center Trustees, Thank You for your support, vision and dedicated commitment to the cause each day. You are the reason for all we do... my deepest and most sincere appreciation for each and every one of you.
Denali National Park Researchers and Employees, thank you for taking care of this glorious and inspiring land, your efforts both preserve and provide the window of opportunity to experience this great Park for future generations
Elwood Lynne, Philip Hooge and Kris Fister, your support and counsel has been invaluable
Ev and Tim from Beaver Sports in Fairbanks, thanks for all the ski wax advice and your darn good attitude.
Jane Bryant, your lifelong dedication to the history of Denali is inspiring, thank you for sharing your Sheldon knowledge
Jersey Jones, thanks for the wood haulin', gear schleppin' but most of all for your friendship and laughs
Jilllll, Liz, Sue, thanks for all you do...what a Fantastic Team! Getting back to all of you will truly be Joyful, thank you for all your great work...
Jodi Rodwell, thanks for taking on the details of running the show and for everything you do each day, you are a Rockstar and a Superstar!
Kris Denton, supplied the Canon XH A1 High Definition camera/accessories, thanks for believing...
Laura and Land Cole, thanks for your generosity, kindness, counsel, Beaver Mitts and for having Oliver the best boy ever.
Leigh Ann Williams, your iPod Shuffle will bring wonderful thoughts of Christiney and for that i am eternally grateful
Mike Sfraga, you are a Great Leader and Visionary, thanks so much for all you do
Mike Speaks, thanks for the skiis, counsel and overall never stop FUN HOG attitude
Mom, Dad and Jane, i will miss our conversations, thank you for your encouragement and support, i love you
Nan Eagleson and Bob Shelton, your encouragement and love of the land is inspiring. i deeply appreciate your friendship.
Paul Anderson, thanks so much for your vision and unwavering support
Rick Brugger, your gear will keep me warm, your friendship is the bonus, from one Sheldon junkie to another!
Sam Auster, what can i say, your friendship, counsel and belief in this trip has never faltered, sincere thanks, hope you make it out
Susan Sharbaugh, thanks for your positive attitude and support
Tom Marsik, thank you for your friendship, your food advice and for your wonderful attitude about life and the world.
Tom Walker, thanks so much for your encouragement and for your diligence in finding the lost photos of Sheldon
Troy Henkel, solar panels, batteries, satellite phones, my head is swimming in technology! Thanks for it all and enjoy your adventure in Antarctica!

Wilderness of Denali 100

Skis to Snowshoes- Day 1

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Check out the Denali Education Center!!!

Dates of trip: January 21 - March 31, 2007

Toklat Weather Station and Access to Winter Trail Conditions

Charles Sheldon

Charles Sheldon, a condensed Biography by Tom Walker

Mount Sheldon

Press about the trip

The Wilderness of Denali by Charles Sheldon

1930 Edition

Research and Daily Projects

Food List: The menu is based on 1.5 pounds of food per day.

Gear List... clothes, supplies, living stuff...this is an ongoing list, much not listed yet

Partners who have helped make this trip happen

Great Friends, Supporters, & Wise Sages

Google Earth, absolutely amazing...it truly is One World, if you haven't already, Download for free

Why is Wilderness important to you?

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