The May 11th team took a weather day at 14 Camp today, sitting tight as conditions kept them in place. With the upper mountain in view and the schedule starting to factor into the conversation, the team is currently weighing their options for what comes next.

There are a few different paths forward being considered. Depending on how the weather and conditions look, the team may push higher on the mountain when the next window opens, or they may begin making their way back down the route. Both are reasonable options at this point in the expedition, and either decision will be made carefully and with the team’s safety and goals in mind. June 1 is the team’s last day to be at Basecamp and try to fly out, so the timeline is one of several factors guiding the conversation right now.

These kinds of decisions are a normal and important part of climbing on Denali. The mountain rarely lets a team move on a strict schedule, and experienced guides spend a lot of time balancing weather, conditions, the team’s overall position, and the bigger picture of the climb. The May 11th team is approaching this stretch the way responsible climbers do: thoughtfully, patiently, and with a clear-eyed read on what the mountain is offering.

For now, the May 11th team is at 14 Camp, taking the time they need to make a thoughtful decision about the next phase of the climb. We’re proud of the work they’ve put in to get this far, and we’ll keep folks posted once the plan comes together.

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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.