On April 17, 2023, after a successful summit of Annapurna, renowned Irish mountain climber Noel Hanna passed away peacefully in his sleep.

 

I first met Noel on Kilimanjaro when I was just 11, and he quickly stepped up to mentor me in the ways of life both in and outside of the mountains.

 

Noel also transformed the lives of many other aspiring climbers and individuals, most notably in the Himalayas, where he summited Everest, K2, and many more challenging peaks--a testament to his determination and strength.

 

This June, I’ll be challenging myself with an ascent of Denali, aimed at commemorating the difference Noel made in my life and on others, while also raising money for the American Himalayan Foundation. The AHF supports vulnerable groups across the Himalaya, providing aid supporting healthcare, education, the environment, and much more. which will support the people and mountains of the Himalaya where Noel spent much of his time. Noel had already ascended Denali once previously and planned on returning in 2023 to make a second trip to the roof of North America, but I will unfortunately be heading to Alaska without him this year.

 

Rising above the rest of North America, Denali is 20,310 feet tall, and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most difficult mountains. In less than a month, I’ll be facing arctic weather and hauling nearly 120 lbs of gear and food onto the mountain with me, hoping to commemorate Noel’s legacy and continue making a positive impact, just as he did.