U.S. Air Force Seven Summits Challenge, one climb closer

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jamie L. Coggan
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Captain Mark Uberuaga, an HH-60 pilot from the 55th Rescue Squadron here at D-M, led a group of Airmen to the summit of Mount McKinley, Alaska.

Mount McKinley, a 20,3200 foot climb, also known as Denali, is the fourth summit on the way to completing the U.S. Air Force Seven Summits Challenge.

The Seven Summits Challenge was the brainchild of Captain Uberuaga and his climbing partner, Capt. Rob Marshall, 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Fla. As avid mountain climbers, the roommates saw an opportunity to channel their sadness over the loss of their friends and co-workers into something good.

On each of the seven continents there is one peak that stands above the rest. The vision of their challenge is to have Air Force members carry the Air Force flag to the highest point on each continent, ending on the highest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest. In doing so, they will be the first American military or governmental group to reach the summit of Mount Everest and the first military group in the world to reach all of the famed seven summits.

"There are both logistical and monetary challenges," said Capt. Uberuaga. "I think this last climb gave the group a lot of momentum."

Not only do the climbers draw positive attention to the Air Force, they raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (www.specialops.org). This is an organization that provides free scholarships and grants to the children of military personnel who were killed in the course of military duties. The group raised $20,000 for SOWF on the Mount McKinley expedition.

The climbers who joined Captain Uberuaga on this expedition were: Capt. Erin Van Oosten, a C-130 pilot from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, 1st Lt. Tim Hannon, a civil-engineer from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Capt. Tavis McDevitt, an HH-60 pilot from Kadena air Base, Japan, Capt. Graydon Muller, a UH-1 pilot from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., and 1st Lt. Andrew Ackles, also a UH-1 pilot from Malmstrom.

Captain Uberuaga and his team arrived in Alaska on May 28 and flew to the mountain. They started the climb on May 30 and 15 days later, they had climbed and ascended the mountain.

"I am just so thankful for all the people who supported our efforts in this challenge," he said. The challenge is open to any Air Force member to join. For more information, visit www.usaf7summits.com.