Alaska Alpine Club

Publication Year: 1962.

Alaska Alpine Club. The 1961 climbing season began with a January attempt on still unclimbed McGinnis Peak in the eastern Alaska Range. In March, eleven climbers made the first ascent of Old Snowy in the Castner Glacier area of the Alaska Range. Unsuccessful attempts were made in May to ascend an unclimbed 11,500-foot peak on the north Park. During the summer a party made a first ascent of Black Cap in the side of the Black Rapids Glacier and to climb Mount Russell in McKinley Castner Glacier area by the east ridge, and a group visited the Mather- Brooks region of the Muldrow Glacier in McKinley Park.

A 12-foot, A-frame hut was carried in and erected eight miles up the Castner Glacier at the Princess branch. The hut has been named the Thayer Memorial Hut in honor of Elton Thayer, a founder of the club who was killed on a traverse of Mount McKinley in 1954. The hut is open to climbers using this area, in which several one-day climbs are possible.

Officers for 1961-1962 are: Buck Wilson, president; Les Viereck, vice-president; Teri Viereck, secretary-treasurer; Gene Wescott and Keith Jones, councilors.

Gene Wescott