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I elevation: 21,000 feet peru: cordillera huayhuash I elevation: 20,320 feet usa: mt denali, ak South of the town of Huarez. Peru. lies a remote area of high peaks and little human habitation. The Cordillera Huayhuash mountain area. home to Andes big· gies such as the 21.000·foot Yerapaja and 20.000·foot Siula Grande. is a moun· tain climbing destination where you can enjoy natural beauty in relative solitude. Mountain climbing trips to either of these peaks involve a three·day hike in to base camp then a couple weeks of good climbing on snow and ice. The treat in Peru is that mules will carry all of your gear in on the trek in to basecamp. Although easier than Alaska's Mt Denali. the mountain climbs in the Cordillera Huayhuash are still technical. meaning they require knowledge of crevasse rescue. self·arrest and snow and ice climbing techniques.-BW OUTFITTER Not Available If your sights are set on Everest·scope moun· taineering feats. one of the best ways to get those quads fit and lungs used to sucking low·oxygen air is to make a pilgrimage to Alaska's Mt Denali (also called McKinley). the highest peak in North America. This trip is not for the mountaineering neophyte. From the Kahiltna base camp. at 7.200 feet. it's a three·week journey. skiing and climbing upwards over snow and ice. Lung·numb· ing cold. heavy packs. sunburn. monster crevasses and learning the intricacies of peeing into a bottle are all part of the experience. Denali is a big peak requir· ing mileage. experience. hard training and education.-BW OUTFITTER ALASKA-DENALI GUIDING, USA Alaska-Denali has been expertly leading trips exploring the Alaskan wilderness since 1983. 26 days, $3,800, June 1-26, 2002; 907'733-2649, www.denaliexpeditions.com malaysia: mt kinabalu, borneo I elevation: 13.455 feet Borneo. The name usually conjures images of a low. dense jungle screeching with life and dissected by brown. surging rivers. But there are mountains in Borneo. and some excellent climbing to be had in them. At 13.455 feet. Mt Kinabalu. in Sabah. is the highest peak in Southeast Asia. In contrast with the icy. crackling air of most alpine climbs. Kinabalu rises out of a deep rainforest thick with heat and humidity. making it the antithesis of most other mountaineering experiences. The approach to the mountain is short and climbing trips begin at the park gate-which can be reached by taxi. The relatively easy two· to three-day climb is mostly a hike. pass- ing through cloud forest. sub-alpine. then rocky mountain terrain. For more infor- mation on Kinabalu Park. Sabah Parks Malaysia. log onto www.infosabah.com-BW OUTFITTER OUTER EDGE EXPEDITIONS, USA Outer Edge leads a mUlti-sport trip throughout Borneo of which one of the high- lights is a three-day climb up Mt Kinabalu. 16 Days, $3,°9°, 2001: 9/7--9/22, 2002: 4/26-5/11, 6/28-7/13,9/13--9/28; 800-322- 5235, www.outer-edge.com 15