The May 28th team made the move up to Camp 2 today, settling in at 11,200 feet after a day of climbing through windy and cold conditions on the route. The team is now camped near another guided team on the mountain and is planning to back-carry their cache tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

Conditions on the lower mountain can shift quickly, and today brought a chillier, breezier feel to the climbing. Moving on a glacier in cold and windy conditions adds a layer of challenge to an already demanding day. Climbers have to manage layering, stay focused on the rope team, and keep their pace steady while pushing through the elements. The team handled it well and got into Camp 2 safely.

Being camped near another team on the route has its own quiet benefits. The community at the camps along the West Buttress is small and tight-knit, and seeing familiar faces from other expeditions adds to the experience of life on the mountain. Sharing stories at the cook tent, comparing notes on conditions, and trading the kind of small talk that only happens at 11,200 feet are part of what makes camp life on Denali memorable.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, the team plans to back-carry their cache to consolidate their supplies at Camp 2. With another day of climbing behind them and good momentum building, the May 28th team is well-positioned for the next phase of the expedition.

Mountain Trip team at Camp 2

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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.