Washburn makes it into Hall of Fame

Monday – The late Bradford Washburn has been recognized in the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame directors announced this year’s inductees into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame at a press conference today.

The Hall of Fame inductees this year are Washburn, Lance Mackey, 10-time World Eskimo champion Reggie Joule, and snowboarder Rosey Fletcher.  Two riveting moments in Alaska Sports history also made the cut:  Dick Mackey’s one second victory over Rick Swenson in the 1978 Iditarod and the upset by Noorvik’s Elliot Sampson in the 1982 state cross country running championships.

Bradford Washburn was a mountaineering pioneer from the 1920s through the 1950s.  He might be best known in Alaska for his 1951 climb with his wife Barbara on the West Buttress of Denali.  Other first ascents include Mt. Dickey, Mt. Silverthorne, Mt. Sanford and McGonagall Mountain.  He is also well known for his aerial photography of Denali.  His photographs are still used today for route finding on the mountain.  His wife, Barbara, the first woman to summit Mt. McKinley, still lives in Massachusetts.

The Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at the end of February in Anchorage.