Polar explorer and mountaineer Lonnie Dupre along with climbing teammate Pascale Marceau are launching Lucania - A Frigid First; an attempt at the first winter ascent of Mount Lucania (5226m / 17,146ft).
Nestled deep in the Yukon’s Kluane National Park and Reserve, this seldom visited peak has never been climbed in the winter. The two person team, Marceau and Dupre, will attempt to be the first to do so. Marceau would be one of few or possibly the first female, if successful, to summit a subarctic, high altitude mountain in the winter.
Mt. Lucania lies 65km north of its famous neighbour, Mt. Logan - Canada’s tallest mountain. Due to its remoteness, this lesser-known peak is rarely climbed. The duo can expect minus 50 degree temperatures, gale force winds, limited daylight and multi-day storms. The attempt at Mt. Lucania’s first winter ascent will be a test of human will, mountaineering skills and years of polar expedition experience.
“We aim to experience this area at a time of year when no one else has. Through captivating
imagery and story-telling, our goal is to inspire others to follow their own dreams of adventure and to gain an appreciation for Canada’s wild places.”
The duo hopes to fly into the St-Elias Mountain range the second week of January 2018, weather permitting. They will be taking everything they need to keep them alive for 25 days.
Dupre is thrilled to continue his partnership with lead sponsor, PrimaLoft - Performance Insulation. This product is used in the team’s clothing and footwear. PrimaLoft has been central in all of Dupre’s expeditions since 1995.
Marceau is proud to partner up with Royal Canadian Geographical Society, together they share a goal of expanding geographic appreciation and understanding by making Canada better known to Canadians and to the world.
The team’s major sponsors include: Minnesota based Granite Gear, which produces serious backpacks and accessories, and Mountain Hardwear for the team’s sleep system and various garments that will keep them warm.
Support sponsors include: SPOT personal locator beacon to follow along during the climb, Globalstar providing satellite phone service as Dupre & Marceau’s lifeline to the rest of the world, Hilleberg the Tentmaker for their wilderness hotel, and Midwest Mountaineering providing long time support of their projects.