Minus 148⁰ tells the story of the first winter ascent of Mount McKinley in 1967. The title refers to the windchill-adjusted temperature on Denali Pass when three climbers bivouacked there, I first read it in high school alongside other classic mountaineering tales such as Annapurna.
Most mountaineering books emphasize the heroic nature of the undertaking and the participants. They focus on the elaborate logistics (Everest, The Hard Way), the technical difficulties (The White Spider), the strange psychology of climbers (Beyond the Mountain; Touching the Void), or the anatomy of a disaster (Into Thin Air). The eight climbers in Minus 148⁰ are more relatable characters. In their enthusiasm they underplan the expedition; the climb is more a matter of endurance than climbing skill; and the author honestly admits to the petty divisions that spring up between teammates under stress. The nominal leader of the expedition loses his passion for the climb while still on the lower slopes.
The title aside, Davidson doesn't dwell much on the temperature or the short days. Yes, they suffer from frostbite and sometimes have to travel in the dark, but the factor that brings them near disaster is the 150-mph winds at the pass.
Davidson and a couple of the others had climbed McKinley in the past. I would have liked to hear more about how the trip differed from a summer climb. For example, they were able to travel more quickly over the glacier because the colder snow was more firm.
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