The Philip B. Petersen Collection Broadcast March 24, 1989

     On the 19th of June, 1986, three young computer scientists with amateur radio communications started an adventure they had been planning for years.  That was to climb up to the summit of the highest mountain in North America - Mt. McKinley in Alaska, which is 20,320 feet high.  They were Bernd Bregge, Ward Blake, KA3PLZ, and Richard Korf, son of Earl Korf, K2IC of Lincroft, New Jersey, who is also a mountain climber of considerable note.  They were all expert mountain climbers and had previously climbed to the summit of the highest mountain in South America.
     Amateur radio communication played a very important part in this adventure since they were in daily radio communications with other radio amateurs throughout their 28-day adventure.
     On June 19th, they flew out to their starting point at the 7000-foot level with all of their equipment and started up the slope using skis and slides at first.  Sixteen days later, they arrived at 17,200 feet and set up a base camp.  Soon they could no longer use their skis and slides and left them in a cache for their return trip.
     They were now ready to make the last steep climb up the mountain but had to wait a few days for the weather to improve.  The weather was very cold and the temperature was hovering around zero.  In order to make the radios work properly, they had to carry them under their clothing with only the microphone and antenna exposed to the weather.  Many Alaska radio amateurs were anxiously communicating and listening to them slowly climbing over this long 12-hour final climb until they reached the summit at 8:12 PM on the 8th of July, just 19 days since they started to climb up Mt. McKinley.
     The first amateur radio communications from the summit that were heard by many radio amateurs went like this:  "KL7LA this is Blake, KA3PLZ.  I hope you are recording this.  We made the summit at 8:12 this evening."  "Roger, summit at 8:12 very good.  I have just three comments to make.  There are many radio amateurs waiting and listening:  To Bernd:  Was eight years planning worth it?  To Rich:  I talked to your dad at 7:15.  He is excited for you and the boys.  You might draw a few call signs on top of the snow there.  We are all proud of you.  Will monitor you until you get down."
     "OK Rosemary, this is Bernd.  Yes it was worth it.  We did it but the last 20 meters was quite some work.  By the way, with this summit each of us has conquered the highest summits in both South and North America.  Gee!!"  "That's great.  I didn't realize the double goal."
     These conversations via amateur radio transpired on the 8th of July after which the three mountain climbers made many phone patch radio calls to many friends and relatives all over the country from the summit of Mount McKinley via direct connection from amateur radio through the regular public telephone service.
     Due to bad weather delays, it took nine more days before they could complete the return trip down the mountain.  They ran out of food and requested that some food be airdropped.  Finally, on the 16th of July, they completed their great 28-day adventure.  This became the first time that amateur radio long distance phone patch telephone service was accomplished from the top of the highest mountain in North America, Mount McKinley.

March 24, 1989

** Broadcasts recordings preserved and presented here by Mr. Robert Buss and Mr. Bernie Ricciardi, Phil's friends and fellow Marconi Chapter 138 QCWA members **

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