A capstone event is a culminating activity or milestone that marks the completion of a journey. We had the opportunity to interview Dr. Benjamin Rush, assistant professor in the outdoor leadership (OL) program at Prince William Sound College (PWSC), about his recent capstone expedition to Denali with alumnus Rafael Alfaro and student Evan Clupper. The team spent 17 days camping, hiking through snow and crossing glaciers to reach High Camp at 17,200 feet. Rush emphasized the value of the journey and the extensive preparation that took several months.

Rush explained that students had to complete a series of outdoor leadership courses, including winter camping, mountaineering, crevasse and avalanche rescue, and ice climbing, to prepare for their expedition.

In the winter camping class, students were taught how to correctly set up tents and tarps. They even faced intense winds of 25-35 miles per hour, which caused some laughter and screams as the students worried about their tarps blowing away. To protect their tarps, they built wind walls and ensured that their tents were securely anchored. Rush said, "I have seen tents roll down the mountain on windy days. If that happens, your expedition is over."

Jason Stuckey, a well-regarded and seasoned instructor, led the mountaineering class. All his students highly valued Stuckey's teaching methods and vast expertise. The class included a two-night stay at Thompson Pass, where students learned essential skills such as self-arrest, using fixed lines, employing running belays, utilizing crampons, setting anchors and working in rope teams. This course is built upon the skills students gained in the winter camping class. Although it is not possible to master every skill needed to climb Denali, the knowledge and skills acquired from these mandatory classes were crucial to the successful Denali expedition.

The students obtained firsthand information from Jamie Struck, Rush's colleague who climbed Denali last year. They held weekly meetings where Struck answered their questions and gave input on his trip. Rush also scouted the area before taking the students to Denali National Park to ensure their safety and well-being. By analyzing the terrain, potential hazards and weather conditions, instructors can make informed decisions and take necessary precautions to promote responsible and secure outdoor experiences. He received funding for a 10-day course with the Alaska Mountaineering School based in Talkeetna and chose the Denali Prep course, which had the same itinerary as climbing the West Buttress. They flew to the same base camp and hiked the same area up to 11,000 feet, practicing the skills needed to climb Denali. Rush experienced no problems with altitude sickness and adapted well to the high altitude.

Rush stressed that a capstone trip is a vital aspect of the OL program at PWSC.

"Our location makes us stand out from other schools with capstone programs. One of the reasons to attend the outdoor leadership program is the exceptional learning experience it offers. Alaska is famous for its outdoors and people travel worldwide to hike our trails, kayak our ocean and ski our mountains. Initially, there was no capstone program when I arrived at PWSC and all classes were on weekends. While weekends are great, multi-day events enable students to improve their skills through daily practice. Our first water capstone consisted of kayaking from Whittier to Valdez with ten students and two instructors. The 14-day camping and paddling experience helped students understand how to care for themselves and the significance of teamwork for a successful expedition. There is no better teacher."