The May 12th team left Basecamp (7,200′ 2194m) yesterday morning and arrived at Camp 1 (7,800′ 2377m)! Even though this doesn’t seem like a lot of elevation gain, this is often considered one of the hardest days of the trip. Only on this day and the last day do you have to carry everything you have brought with you on the glacier.

After leaving Basecamp, the team descended down the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna for about 600′ until it flowed into the main body of the Kahiltna Glacier. This hill is known as Heartbreak Hill, it will be the last elevation they have to gain on the final day of their return journey. From the base of this hill they began to climb through undulating terrain for 5.5 miles gaining 1,200′. Camp 1 rests at the base of Ski Hill. Ski Hill rises 1,000′ above camp. The compression of the glacier as it flows over this terrain convexity and meets the flatter glacier below creates a compression zone, closing the gaping crevasses and providing a nice place to set up camp.

Last night they enjoyed a delicious meal of Hawaiian burgers!

Here’s the team with the update:

Audio Recording