Keepsake gear returned to first woman to climb Mount Logan solo

WHITEHORSE — The Montreal woman who was the first female to make a solo ascent of Canada’s highest mountain has recovered some of the expensive gear she had to abandon during her rescue on the climb down.

Monique Richard reached the 5,959-metre summit of Mount Logan in Yukon on May 30, but became exhausted and dehydrated during the descent and had to call for a helicopter rescue.

She managed to descend to the 5,400-metre level with the help of two other climbers and a helicopter was able to reach her and airlift her to safety.

But Richard was forced to leave her pack and equipment, valued at about $10,000, on the mountain. 

She says a group of climbers who recently passed her abandoned camp picked up her custom-painted helmet and her high-tech one-person shelter and delivered them to Parks Canada, which oversees activities on Mount Logan in Kluane National Park.

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Parks officials sent them on to Richard, who has no plans for another climb on Mount Logan, so is delighted to have them back.

“I’m very happy because they are special things for me,” she says.

Richard credits the uniquely painted helmet for saving her life on several occasions and says she will put it and the shelter in a special collection kept at her home.

Richard spent the summer climbing in the Montreal area, and says she is now preparing to write a book about her experience on Mount Logan. (CKRW)

The Canadian Press