Derek Toshner's 24-day Denali Climb - Eating Buried Food To Survive
Thu Feb 05 2026
Running low on food and staring down the real possibility of not having enough to finish the climb, Derek Toshner and his team faced a moment that forced absolute honesty about preparation, risk, and consequence.
In this episode of the Intensity Podcast, Derek shares the full story of his 24-day expedition on Denali, the most demanding climb in a year-long goal to summit ten mountains. Brutal conditions, isolation, exhaustion, and long stretches of waiting tested not just their bodies, but their judgment and resolve.
This conversation goes far beyond mountaineering. It’s about preparation, patience, and making hard decisions when turning back feels logical. The lessons Derek learned on the mountain translate directly into life, business, and leadership — where outcomes are often decided long before pressure shows up.
If you’ve ever taken on something that demanded more than you thought you had, this episode will resonate.
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Running low on food and staring down the real possibility of not having enough to finish the climb, Derek Toshner and his team faced a moment that forced absolute honesty about preparation, risk, and consequence. In this episode of the Intensity Podcast, Derek shares the full story of his 24-day expedition on Denali, the most demanding climb in a year-long goal to summit ten mountains. Brutal conditions, isolation, exhaustion, and long stretches of waiting tested not just their bodies, but their judgment and resolve. This conversation goes far beyond mountaineering. It’s about preparation, patience, and making hard decisions when turning back feels logical. The lessons Derek learned on the mountain translate directly into life, business, and leadership — where outcomes are often decided long before pressure shows up. If you’ve ever taken on something that demanded more than you thought you had, this episode will resonate. Support the show