As a storm rages around Yukon’s Mount Logan, mountain climber Natalia Martinez is hunkered alone near the summit, awaiting a rescue that may not arrive until Friday. Martinez was partway through a multi-day expedition to the top of the peak when a pair of nearby earthquakes set off a series of avalanches that stranded her. The Argentinian is currently camped on a relatively stable ridge, but the potential aftershocks and harsh weather mean that moving up or down the mountain is out of the question. 

 

Mount Logan is the highest peak in Canada, towering 5,959 metres within the heart of Kluane National Park’s Saint-Elias range. It is remote, prone to freezing snowstorms and, due to active tectonic uplift, is getting gradually higher every year. Last year, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society awarded an expedition grant to Martinez and Chilean Ines Dussaillant for their plan to ascend the mountain together in alpine style (which focuses on speed and self-sufficiency) via the demanding and technical East Ridge route. Featuring two knife-edge ridges and a high level of exposure, the route had never been conquered by an all-women team. Bad weather forced the duo to delay the expedition and Martinez eventually decided to go it alone this year.