Jon Griffith and Will Sim have climbed the iconic Cassin Ridge on Denali in Alaska in 14 hours and 40 minutes. First climbed in 1961 by an Italian team of six including Riccardo Cassin the route is one of the most famous alpine climbs in the world and takes most teams three days or more.

Writing on the Alpine Exposures Blog Jon Giffith Commented:
'The Cassin was the highlight of our time out there without a doubt and we were glad to be able to do it in a single push style. Heading into the base of one of the world’s biggest faces and onto one of America’s most famous climbs was a little daunting with just a day pack to say the least but we managed to top out in 14 hours and 40 minutes. However we benefited from a track up to the first rock band from two Swedish friends before we over took them and we topped out on the Kahiltna Horn (20,000ft), not the summit of Denali proper (20,320ft). The 15 hour Mugs Stump record from 1991 was also done to the Kahiltna Horn and with a track in the whole way but from the pure ethics side Colin Haley and Bjørn-Eivind Årtun did the Cassin last year to the summit and with no track in 17 hours so they hold the real record.'

For more about low temperatures, non functioning stoves and spearing yourself with your crampons read the rest of this blog post at http://www.alpineexposures.com/blogs/chamonix-conditions/3354742-alaska-2011