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Alone at the Top: Climbing Denali in the Dead of Winter
What goes through your mind when you’re dropped alone in the middle of the Alaska Range, the cold and darkness surrounding you without another human being for miles? Arctic explorer Lonnie Dupre had made a career out of working in teams to survive in extreme conditions and places most humans wouldn't dare to tread. But shortly after Dupre found himself alone after a twenty-year marriage, he decided he needed to summit Denali, the continent’s tallest mountain, alone and in the harshest possible conditions to prove something to himself.
Dupre was on his fourth attempt in five years in late December 2014 when a surprise storm caught him at 11,200 feet. Forced to live for almost five full days with little food and water, Dupre was in the most dangerous situation of his life.
Alone at the Top offers a mountaineer’s firsthand perspective during life-and-death decision making on the mountain. Dupre takes readers along with him as he struggles to keep his mind and body in shape while facing incredible hardships. He applies the lessons learned on the mountain to everyday life.
Dupre was on his fourth attempt in five years in late December 2014 when a surprise storm caught him at 11,200 feet. Forced to live for almost five full days with little food and water, Dupre was in the most dangerous situation of his life.
Alone at the Top offers a mountaineer’s firsthand perspective during life-and-death decision making on the mountain. Dupre takes readers along with him as he struggles to keep his mind and body in shape while facing incredible hardships. He applies the lessons learned on the mountain to everyday life.
208 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2018
6 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 23, 2019
Read in a single sitting and now I’m sore. Couldn’t put it down! I only take off a star because he got a little preachy at the end. Amazing feat though. I wish I had the ambition for mountaineering.
June 13, 2018
Can you say "obsessive compulsive"? How many times do you have to experience "we were closer to death than we knew" before you stop said behavior? No matter what--destruction of two marriages, no parenting of a son--you have to be an arctic explorer? and then a mountain climber??
Sorry. This is not my cup of tea.
Sorry. This is not my cup of tea.
June 16, 2020
I bought this book when I was up in Alaska, I believe, at a little thrift store in Fairbanks, one of my Alaska souvenirs. I’ve read books by mountain climbers, hikers, and adventurers before. My boyfriend has read nearly every book he can get his hands on about the Everest disaster of 1996. It’s one of those subjects that we like to read about vicariously, because no way in a million years would I ever want to do this myself. I climbed the Hanging Lake Trail in Colorado and it nearly killed me, that is as rough as I go. This was a quick, easy read with enough tension to keep me interested in the story.
It does give some insight into the personalities of people who do this sort of thing. He puts self and glory of achievement above his human relationships. He admits that his long wilderness adventures likely cost him his marriage and he was not as good a father as he should have been, since he was absent for long periods of time chasing arctic adventure. I’m also amazed that they get sponsored to do this, so he wasn’t paying for all his climbs on Denali in the winter on his own dime. The climber’s excitement might be tempered if they had to pay for it all themselves.
At the end he expounds on his philosophy about making the world a better place by having a smaller ecological footprint, but I’m not entirely convinced that his living in a tiny house, recycling, and planting trees really negates the risks he took (and continues to take) when he made these grand expeditions, the waste that is left on the mountain by climbers, the potential risks to others if he needed to be rescued. The potential exploitation or displacement of native populations who assist with these climbs. Interesting issues.
It does give some insight into the personalities of people who do this sort of thing. He puts self and glory of achievement above his human relationships. He admits that his long wilderness adventures likely cost him his marriage and he was not as good a father as he should have been, since he was absent for long periods of time chasing arctic adventure. I’m also amazed that they get sponsored to do this, so he wasn’t paying for all his climbs on Denali in the winter on his own dime. The climber’s excitement might be tempered if they had to pay for it all themselves.
At the end he expounds on his philosophy about making the world a better place by having a smaller ecological footprint, but I’m not entirely convinced that his living in a tiny house, recycling, and planting trees really negates the risks he took (and continues to take) when he made these grand expeditions, the waste that is left on the mountain by climbers, the potential risks to others if he needed to be rescued. The potential exploitation or displacement of native populations who assist with these climbs. Interesting issues.
October 29, 2019
I recently bought and read this book, it was fantastic! The Authors write about Lonnie Dupre's Incredible journey starting with his winter expeditions, and culminating in his solo ascent of Denali. They write in a way that truly keeps the reader engaged throughout the book, even adding elements of suspense as to what happens next. They narrate his journey in a way that a even non-mountaineer can understand and enjoy. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has interest in mountaineering, as you can learn from the strategies Lonnie employs, as well as his appendixes for winter expeditions.
November 7, 2023
thank you.
As a solo traveler and simple life type person, I have long admired cold weather and mountain explorers. Lonnie exemplifies the accessible leader who pushes limits and shares some of the keys to how to safely get it done. So it was no surprise to find a complete equipment and menu guide in the appendices. The man walks his talk. He is capable of self criticism, while at the same defining his values - it is rare to have a leader / explorer who leaves me feeling validated for following my own path. Thank you Pam and Lonnie.
As a solo traveler and simple life type person, I have long admired cold weather and mountain explorers. Lonnie exemplifies the accessible leader who pushes limits and shares some of the keys to how to safely get it done. So it was no surprise to find a complete equipment and menu guide in the appendices. The man walks his talk. He is capable of self criticism, while at the same defining his values - it is rare to have a leader / explorer who leaves me feeling validated for following my own path. Thank you Pam and Lonnie.
November 6, 2018
Great book showing how Lonnie achieved his dream and what he went through to do so. He has done presentations at our library - one after his first unsuccessful attempt at summiting Denali and then after he did summit Denali. Very interesting man. This book reflects that.
January 3, 2022
A great tale of triumph. Wholey enjoyed learning the gritty details of the failures that built the success. Four attempts to reach his goal, and a Minnesotan no less.
Lonnie is certainly the type of person that would drive others insane with his constant chase for big expeditions. He touches on the personal implications of his life style and at times I caught myself becoming frustrated with him.
Alas, his need to forge out on his own also makes for some harrowing tales that take you places many of us will never experience.
An excellent account of the detailed process. I appreciated the breakdown of exact gear and food to how weight is distributed in the appendages.
Some inspiring quotes I highlighted;
"In all the splendor of solitude...it is a test of myself." - Uemura
"Yes, I had regrets, but I also had had the ability and the courage to live my wildest dreams. How many people get to do that?"
"I learned that experiences are best when shared with others. Friends and family bring balance to life, giving us other perspectives that make us healthier in our pursuit of happiness."
The read felt like a sit down chat beside the fire with an interesting new acquaintance as they unfold their story. A pleasure to be had.
Lonnie is certainly the type of person that would drive others insane with his constant chase for big expeditions. He touches on the personal implications of his life style and at times I caught myself becoming frustrated with him.
Alas, his need to forge out on his own also makes for some harrowing tales that take you places many of us will never experience.
An excellent account of the detailed process. I appreciated the breakdown of exact gear and food to how weight is distributed in the appendages.
Some inspiring quotes I highlighted;
"In all the splendor of solitude...it is a test of myself." - Uemura
"Yes, I had regrets, but I also had had the ability and the courage to live my wildest dreams. How many people get to do that?"
"I learned that experiences are best when shared with others. Friends and family bring balance to life, giving us other perspectives that make us healthier in our pursuit of happiness."
The read felt like a sit down chat beside the fire with an interesting new acquaintance as they unfold their story. A pleasure to be had.
June 19, 2022
It's a great adventure book. I am recommending it to my mountaineering group, as it covers a lot of the mental fortitude we deal with in the mountains. It's not a book for everyone. It's real drama (not fake) and reads like Live Laugh Love, if she decided to try and climb a mountain in the dead of winter while dealing with starvation, severe loneliness, and beard icicles... otherwise is basically the same.
Really though, the writing was great and approachable, which is what adventure non-fiction should be. The story was intriguing and kept a good pace. The book was short (I read it in a day), which was nice considering some of these books tend to be about 50 pages longer than they need to be (due to publishers trying to hit specific word number goals).
Really though, the writing was great and approachable, which is what adventure non-fiction should be. The story was intriguing and kept a good pace. The book was short (I read it in a day), which was nice considering some of these books tend to be about 50 pages longer than they need to be (due to publishers trying to hit specific word number goals).
November 5, 2024
cold reading
Had high hopes for this book….but it turned out to be a mind numbing and boring jumble of journal like entries e.g. I paced up the tent… I spilled the pee bottle…every page seemed similar. At the end one was left with the impression this guy was a cold fish who liked being in the cold. Very disappointing. The attempts to add a thin veneer of climate change appear insincere.
Had high hopes for this book….but it turned out to be a mind numbing and boring jumble of journal like entries e.g. I paced up the tent… I spilled the pee bottle…every page seemed similar. At the end one was left with the impression this guy was a cold fish who liked being in the cold. Very disappointing. The attempts to add a thin veneer of climate change appear insincere.
May 18, 2020
This book definitely held my interest. I liked how he organized his days in not how far he got, but in his routines. He does a good job of mind over matter with being alone and facing disappointment. The crass language that appears here and there is not necessary.
July 6, 2019
Well written book about solo climbing Denali, but delves into more about intentional living. Enjoyable.
August 9, 2019
Learned a lot about what it takes to climb Denali, that one day I am going to do.
September 28, 2020
Greats book.
Great book, he tells it and feels like I am there. Can't wait to read his other books. Thank you.
Great book, he tells it and feels like I am there. Can't wait to read his other books. Thank you.
March 17, 2021
This is a good book about a guy who just really likes to be outside in the cold. Mostly alone but he isn't a loner. He is pretty honest about himself and his actions/accomplishments.
April 17, 2021
An easy adventure book to read. Winter expedition people are crazy!
did-not-finish
October 21, 2021DNF it was a city wide read but I could not finish the book. He gets cold, screws up and then gets out of it and obviously he does it so…bahbahbah.
October 22, 2021
Good God I couldn't read any further.
Half way through with this garbage, I just couldn't take it anymore. So much whining. This guy is an idiot.
Half way through with this garbage, I just couldn't take it anymore. So much whining. This guy is an idiot.
August 19, 2023
Interesting read about a man who decided to solo climb Denali in winter. The book details his struggles to accomplish the goal. Worth the read.
August 3, 2024
Interesting read
January 2, 2025
I would recommend reading it once, but it's not what I typically read and won't read again. It is a good story, and I was able to finish the book in a day.
Read
June 26, 2018I enjoyed reading it. I admire his drive to reach his goal.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews