Challenge #1: Mount Wilhelm ~ September 1st-30th, 2023

Located 14,793 ft above sea level, Mount Wilhelm is considered part of the seven tallest summits in the World. The peak made of granite can be found in Papua New Guinea and is the point of three of the country’s provinces. The mountain boasts mountain rainforest type conditions for most of the trek upward, and then 4-5 inches of snow towards the top. Climbers say it is not a technical climb, but can be treacherous due to weather. They usually start during the night to reach the peak at dawn with a better change of tolerable weather. This ascent and descent can take nine to twenty-four hours. 

Mount Wilhelm received it’s name in 1888 when German explorer named, Hugo Zoller climbed the Bismarck Range. Zoller named this peak after one of the German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck’s son, Wilhelmberg. In May of 1944, during World War II, an American F-7A crashed into the mountain while he was flying too low. The remains of the plane are still there today. 

• https://www.britannica.com/place/Bismarck-Range
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Wilhelm
•   https://www.pngtrekkingadventures.com/mount-wilhelm-climb
• Photograph by Created and released under GFDL by Nomadtales.