The June 15th team has officially completed their expedition and is off the mountain. After several weeks in the Alaska Range, the group made the decision to wrap their climb and began a focused, well-paced descent. They traveled approximately 13 miles and dropped nearly 7,000 vertical feet from their highest camp back to the landing strip at 7,200 feet (2,195 m), moving smoothly through glaciated terrain and classic Denali features on the lower mountain.

Though they didn’t push to the upper mountain or high camp, the team made the most of their time on the West Buttress. They reached the critical midpoint of the route, trained in snow travel and crevasse management, and got to experience the wild beauty of the range. Despite weather challenges and shifting conditions, the group remained unified, upbeat, and adaptable—key elements in any successful expedition.

The descent itself was clean and steady. Moving across familiar landmarks like Motorcycle Hill and down through the wide expanse of the lower Kahiltna, the team kept a tight pace and solid energy all the way out. By the time they reached basecamp, spirits were high and the group was already reflecting on everything they accomplished together.