Our guide Ian Havlik called in from the thin, crisp air of high camp at 17,200′. The team made a strong showing on their move up from the big basin camp at 14,200′. They climbed up the moderate slopes leading to the steep Headwall, before negotiating their way along the exposed and engaging ridge that leads to high camp.
Everyone did great and arrived at camp with plenty of energy to help build the requisite snow walls that protect their tents from the infamously vicious winds that often rake this area.
The weather forecast, which is historically inaccurate, but has been better this year, is calling for increasing winds after Sunday, so the team is considering making a summit bid tomorrow. We’ll see how the morning looks and will try to update you all, if they take a shot at the top.
Denali’s 17,200′ high camp is a challenging place to spend time. It is so high that climbers find themselves breathing air with roughly 1/2 the oxygen content of sea level. This image is looking toward the north summit of the mountain.
