Female Climber Sets Speed Record on Denali Katie Bono, 29, makes round trip in 21 hours, fastest time by a woman By Newser Editors, Newser Staff Posted Jun 25, 2017 4:20 PM CDT 18 comments Comments Katie Bono, in a YouTube clip. (YouTube) (Newser) – In what has been a tough year for climbers on Alaska's Mount Denali, a female American climber has just set a speed record, reports Outside magazine. Katie Bono, 29, left base camp at 6am on June 13, reached the summit in 40-below temperatures, and returned to camp 21 hours and 6 minutes later. That's not only the women's speed record but the third-fastest time, period, for North America's largest peak. Stormy weather this year has resulted in 70% of climbers failing to reach the summit, up from the usual 50%. (The 20,310-foot mountain was for years known as Mount McKinley.) My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results without voting | 4% Hilarious 18% Intriguing 0% Depressing 60% Brilliant 2% Scary 16% Ridiculous