Couple prepares for winter ascent of McKinley

February 16, 2010

Christine Feret and Artur Testov will begin their winter ascent of Mt. McKinley next Monday. (Dan Carpenter/KTUU-DT)

by Lori Tipton
Monday, February 15, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A couple in the Valley will attempt to climb Mt. McKinley this winter.

One week from Monday, Christine Feret and Artur Testov plan to set out to scale the Alaska range.

The two work as a team in both their professional and personal lives.

Testov is a skilled woodworker; Feret helps handle the business.

"That's probably why we argue actually because we're 24 hours a day, together doing stuff," Feret said laughing.

When they're not working with wood, they're preparing for their next outdoor adventure.

"We're just like down to the last leg really so they're just crazy days, we try to keep training," she said.

In one week, the couple will attempt to climb Mt. McKinley.

For Feret, it will be a first, but Testov summited McKinley in a winter climb in 1998.

"This time I have my nice French girl so it's gonna be more fun to do this and I want to share with her all the beauty of these things," Testov said.

The two summited the mountain twice this past summer, but the Alaska Range is a very lonely place during the winter months.

For mountaineers there is no base camp, no climbing rangers to help and no chance of a rescue.

"In the summer, there's enough people that's going up McKinley that there's a trail, but in the winter, nobody goes there. So we're going to have to break trail and just pull that stuff and it's just the two of us," Feret said.

"Nobody helps you. You start yourself. You come back yourself. So it's the best feeling because you can't cheat," Testov said.

They will carry approximately 250 pounds of gear, food and supplies.

And depending on weather, they expect the trip to take at least four weeks.

"The thing is, it's a long trip. The West Buttress, it's not like, technical, but it's just so long," Feret said.

"If it was my choice or chance, I don't know, I would just live there. But it's not possible," Testov said.

Next Monday, the two will be dropped off by air taxi at the Kahiltna glacier.

Both say they are prepared for the challenges ahead and are eager to start.

"We can't wait to get going. I want to go tomorrow, actually, because the preparation is more stressful, almost, than the actual thing. Once you're there, you know, you put your stuff on you just go," Feret said.

Feret is hoping to make history.

If she summits McKinley during this trip, she will be the first female to ever do so during winter.

A kick-off party for the couple will be held this Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Fairview Inn in Talkeetna.

Contact Lori Tipton at ltipton@ktuu.com

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