The May 14th team took a well-earned rest day at Camp 2 today, with plans to move up to 14 Camp tomorrow when the weather is projected to improve.

Rest days at Camp 2 are a smart, deliberate piece of the expedition rhythm. Sitting at 11,200 feet, every additional day at this elevation gives the body more time to adapt to the altitude before pushing higher on the mountain. Move days higher up the route are physically demanding, and going into them well-rested and properly acclimatized makes a real difference once the climbing begins. A day spent eating, hydrating, sleeping, and staying off the rope pays real dividends when it comes time to put the work in.

The move from Camp 2 to 14 Camp is one of the bigger days of the expedition, gaining roughly 3,000 feet of elevation through some of the more demanding terrain on the West Buttress. The day includes the climb up to Windy Corner at around 13,500 feet, followed by the push along the upper traverse and the final stretch into 14 Camp at 14,200 feet. Timing this move with a favorable weather window is important, especially when traveling through exposed terrain like Windy Corner, where wind off the upper mountain can shut down progress in a hurry.

For now, the team is staying patient, staying ready, and keeping an eye on the forecast. If the weather lines up the way it’s projected to, tomorrow could be a big day on the mountain for the May 14th team.

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Interested in more information about conditions and happenings on Denali? Be sure to also check out the Denali National Park’s Denali Dispatches Blog where they post weekly Field Reports.