The May 30th team made it up to high camp today! Reaching high camp at 17,200 feet is a major milestone and a huge step toward a summit attempt.

The move from 14 Camp to high camp is one of the more demanding days on Denali. It involves climbing the fixed lines above 14, navigating the long, exposed ridge that leads to high camp, and finishing high on the upper mountain with all the gear needed to live and climb at altitude. It’s a long day under any conditions, and getting the team into high camp ready to settle in is a real accomplishment.

With the team now in position, the focus shifts to waiting for the right weather window to make a summit attempt. Summit day on Denali is one of the longest and most demanding days of climbing anywhere in the world, often running 12 to 16 hours of climbing in extreme cold and thin air. Going into it on a good weather day is critical, and the team is in a great spot to take advantage of the next window that opens.

For now, the May 30th team is settled in at high camp, resting and getting ready for whatever comes next. The summit is in view, the team is in position, and we’re feeling great about how they’re set up heading into the biggest days of the expedition.

High camp on the West Buttress

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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.