Notes from an Alaska climbing trip Peter McCarthy and I flew into the Alaska Range on May 22, 2022. Both of us felt nervous, me because it was my first time, Peter because it wasn’t his first time. TAT pilot Paul Roderick brought us as close as he could to our main objective, the West Ridge of Begguya (Mount Hunter), turning his Turbo Otter steeply back and forth. I felt I could’ve touched the ridge had I stuck my hand out the window.The mountains had experienced unheard-of high pressure the week preceding our trip. Watching others tick of a bunch…