Two helicopter pilots from Malmstrom part of Denali team

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Capt. Graydon Muller and 1st Lt. Andrew Ackles, pilots with the 40th Helicopter Squadron here, are currently participating in the fourth climb - Mount McKinley in Alaska - of the Seven Summits Challenge. 

This is the first climb for Lieutenant Ackles; Captain Muller also participated in the climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in 2006. 

"I am doing this with a group that is attempting to take Air Force personnel to the top of the seven highest peaks, one on each of the continents," Captain Muller said in an e-mail. 

The team plans on ascending via the West Buttress route, the most popular way to reach the summit, according to the team's official Web site. That plan began being executed May 30, when the pilots were flown with their team mates to the base camp at 7,800 feet. 

Day two, May 31, the climbers proceeded to the 9,700 foot mark in their journey and day three, June 1, they ended their climb at 11,200 feet. June 2 was a day of rest, according to the team's official itinerary. 

"I had my first contact from the team since they started the climb," said Capt. Rob Marshall, co-founder of the USAF Seven Summits Challenge. "Mark (Uberuaga) said they are currently at Camp III, which is at 11,200 feet. Everyone is healthy and working very well as a team. He sounded very enthusiastic." 

Anyone interested in tracking the team's progress is invited to their Web site at www.usaf7summits.com where Captain Marshall posts messages on the blog site as they are received. 

Captain Muller and Lieutenant Ackles will be featured in a story about their experiences when they return to Malmstrom later this month.