The May 16th team took a rest day at 14 Camp today, with plans to make the move up to high camp tomorrow. After the work it took to cache at the top of the fixed lines, a day spent resting, eating, and acclimatizing is exactly what the team needs heading into one of the more demanding moves of the expedition.

The move from 14 Camp to high camp is a serious one. It involves climbing the fixed lines above 14, navigating the long ridge that leads to high camp, and finishing at 17,200 feet in some of the most exposed terrain on the West Buttress. Going into a day like this rested, well-fed, and well-acclimatized makes a real difference, and the team is using today to put themselves in the best possible position for tomorrow.

Rest days at 14 Camp also serve another purpose: keeping the team mentally sharp. The upper mountain demands focus, and the climbing gets more committing from here on out. A relaxed day spent eating hot meals, hydrating, and catching up on sleep helps reset the body and the mind before stepping back onto the rope.

For now, the May 16th team is at 14 Camp, taking it easy and getting ready for a big day tomorrow. The upper mountain is squarely in view, and the team is in a strong position heading into the next phase of the climb.

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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.