Mount Denali’s location in Alaska near the Pacific ocean guarantees storms, fierce winds, and cold weather. In addition, the mountain offers steep slopes, snow, and ice. Consequently, Jordan trains for an entirely new skill set. Karen sets up a rope course that weaves through the yard and puts Jordan in a harness. She tells him to hook and unhook himself from the rope, practicing how to safely pass “anchors” on the rope by unhooking one carabiner at a time. After weeks of this, Jordan begins strength training to prepare for towing a sled filled with essentials. Karen ties an old tire to a rope and has Jordan run it up and down a hill. The work is exhausting, but Jordan feels stronger every day, and when a family friend promises to provide his best sleds, Jordan feels more optimistic than ever.

The ascent up Mount Denali proves the most physically challenging yet, and every step and decision counts. Jordan and his family fly into Anchorage in June and then take a smaller plane into the mountains. During the flight, the pilot acts as a tour guide, telling them all about the landscape and its history.