here are two passages associated with this item. The second passage appears below the first passage.

Question

Passage A: North America’s Tallest Mountain: Denali

(Formerly Mount McKinley)

In the center of the Alaska Range, Denali (known to most North Americans as Mount McKinley) stands out among the other majestic mountains. Denali is the tallest mountain in North America. The unofficial height, measured by radar equipment in 2010, is 20,237 feet, or 6,168 meters, above sea level. Denali is the most popular attraction for people who visit Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska.

The name, Denali, was given to the mountain by the native Athabaskan people. It means “The Great One.” In 1896, a gold prospector named the mountain Mount McKinley for the presidential nominee, William McKinley. President McKinley never had the opportunity to visit his namesake. Even though the native Alaskan people always refer to the mountain as Denali, the official name remained Mount McKinley until August 28, 2015, when President Obama signed the agreement to officially name the mountain Denali. The park, however, was renamed Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980.

Denali is located about 170 miles southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska, and about 130 miles north-northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The large mound of granite was created during a period of tectonic activity that began approximately 60 million years ago. The mountain has two summits and is covered with snow and glaciers. The climate is extremely cold. It can be -75 degrees Fahrenheit, but the wind chill can make it feel like -118 degrees Fahrenheit. A human can freeze on the mountain in an instant. There is a weather station located at 18,700 feet (5,700 meters) that records the temperatures on the mountain. The northern latitude (63 degrees) causes Mount McKinley to have lower barometric pressure than any other mountain. This makes it very difficult for climbers to adjust to the altitude.

This does not stop hikers and mountain climbers from being drawn to the mountain, though. The first person to attempt to climb the mountain was James Wickersham in 1903, but he did not complete the climb. Two prospectors, Hudson Stuck and Harry Karstens, led a party to the South Peak in June of 1913. Their party was the first to reach the top. Barbara Washburn, in 1947, was the first woman to reach the summit of Denali. The first blind climber reached the top in 1993. In 2001, Galen Johnston, age 11, became the youngest female to reach the top. That same year, Toshiko Uchida (age 70) became the oldest female to complete the climb. In 2013, Tom Choate (age 78) broke the record as the oldest male to reach the summit. Over the years, an estimated 32,000 people have attempted to climb the mountain, but only about half of them have succeeded. Even so, several hundred climbers manage to reach the summit each year. Denali is still as fascinating to climbers today as it was hundreds of years ago.
When I decided to climb Denali, formerly Mt. McKinley, I had no idea what a challenge it would be. I just knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I researched training programs and joined an online group that was planning to make a climb in a year. I thought that would give me ample time to prepare and train. Little did I know what was ahead of me.

The group met in Talkeetna, Alaska. We took a small plane to the base camp on the Kahiltna Glacier. Once there, I became very nervous about making the climb. There were 24 tents scattered on the crevasses of the glacier. I heard our guide telling us that many climbers never make it out of base camp; they just get back on the plane and go home.

After that first night, I understood why. I woke up in the darkness and felt like I was in a freezer. Snow was inside the tent, on top of my sleeping bag, and had covered my tent mate. I could not even imagine what at least two more weeks of nights like this might be like for us.

The main climbing season for Denali is from early May to early July. I had to apply and commit to the group two years in advance. There were six people selected for the group. Our guide has climbed the mountain more than once and is a veteran climber. Why should I be so worried?

The next morning, we ate breakfast, loaded up our gear, and headed out to make it to the second camp site. We journeyed in two groups of three, connected by ropes for our safety. It took us about an hour to travel one mile. Six hours later, we arrived at the campsite cold and hungry and set up our tents. We were fortunate that the previous climbers left snow walls that would help protect us from the extreme wind chill during the night.

The next day, we carried only half of the gear to the third camp site. At 10,000 feet I was struggling to breathe. (Anything over 4,900 feet is considered high altitude for humans.) While digging the hole to cache our gear, I felt faint and was hyperventilating. One of the other climbers told me to rest. The ‘double carry’ strategy used to move the gear helps climbers adjust to the high altitudes, but it also makes some climbers realize that they cannot make the climb.

Unfortunately, I felt I could not complete the climb. I was discouraged and did not want to give up on my dream of climbing Denali. The next day, we hiked back down to the previous campsite to get the remaining gear. I connected with another group that was on the way down the mountain and returned to base camp. I flew back to Talkeetna, telling myself that, one day, I would try again to climb this wonderful mountain Passage A and Passage B focus on the same central idea but are told from different points of view.

Write an informational essay in which you identify BOTH points of view and explain how the different points of view affect your understanding of the central idea.

Be sure to:

Introduce a topic.
Organize ideas, concepts, and information.
Develop the topic with facts, definitions, details, quotations, and other information and examples from BOTH passages.
Use transitions to connect and clarify relationships among ideas.
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information presented.

Answer 1

The Dual Perspectives of Climbing Denali: A Journey of Ambition and Reality

Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, stands as a symbol of nature’s grandeur and the ultimate challenge for mountaineers. Two passages on Denali offer distinct perspectives on the experience of tackling this monumental peak: the first is an informative account that highlights the mountain's geological significance, history, and climbing statistics, while the second presents a personal narrative of an aspiring climber facing the stark realities of the ascent. Together, these perspectives deepen our understanding of the central idea—the allure of climbing Denali and the challenges climbers inevitably face.

Point of View from Passage A: The Informative Perspective

Passage A, titled "North America’s Tallest Mountain: Denali," provides a broad overview of the mountain, emphasizing its impressive attributes and historical context. It notes Denali's official height of 20,237 feet and details the mountain's geologically tumultuous history, which dates back 60 million years. The passage underlines the mountain's significance as a natural wonder and a challenge for climbers, noting that approximately 32,000 have attempted the climb, with about half succeeding. This perspective presents Denali not only as a physical challenge but as a cultural icon, having undergone a name change from Mount McKinley back to its native name, Denali, in recognition of its heritage.

This informative account enables readers to appreciate the mountain’s grandeur and the logistical difficulties climbers face due to extreme weather conditions and elevation. The statistic that climbing Denali can be a life-threatening endeavor due to low temperatures and high altitude enhances our understanding of the risks involved in such an undertaking. The narrative also provides context for the experience of climbers by sharing historical milestones, such as the first woman to summit Denali and the struggles faced by climbers, thereby framing the mountain as both a coveted accomplishment and a formidable adversary.

Point of View from Passage B: The Personal Climber’s Experience

In contrast, Passage B offers a personal, first-hand account of an individual preparing to climb Denali. This experiential narrative captures the feelings of fear and uncertainty that accompany the climber’s journey. The climber's initial enthusiasm gradually gives way to doubt as they face the harsh realities of living in frigid conditions and confronting the physical demands of high-altitude climbing. This perspective is crucial because it highlights the emotional and psychological challenges that are often understated in more factual accounts.

As the climber spends the night at base camp, experiencing frigid temperatures and snow, readers gain insight into the physical discomfort and mental strain that climbers endure. The climber's struggle with hyperventilation at 10,000 feet emphasizes the physical toll of altitude and the very real possibility of failure. By recounting the moment of deciding to return to base camp rather than continuing, the climber shares an intimate and authentic moment that contrasts sharply with the more general success rates presented in Passage A.

Connecting the Perspectives

Both passages contribute to a multi-faceted understanding of Denali as a destination for climbers. Passage A positions the mountain as a significant accomplishment, laden with history and adventure, while Passage B personalizes the struggle, showcasing the emotional and physical resilience required to attempt such a feat. The contrast between the statistical narrative and the personal journey illustrates that while climbing Denali is a celebrated goal for many, the path is fraught with formidable challenges that test not only physical endurance but also mental resolve.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the interplay between the informative and personal perspectives on climbing Denali enriches our comprehension of what it means to tackle this majestic mountain. Passage A situates Denali within a larger context of natural history and cultural significance, while Passage B conveys the raw emotional reality of a climber’s struggle. Together, they illuminate both the allure of adventure and the sobering challenges inherent in attempting to conquer one of nature’s great giants—Denali. This duality serves as a powerful reminder that the journey of climbing this peak is not solely defined by summiting, but profoundly shaped by the experiences encountered along the way.