The June 16th Snyder team is off and climbing! After their overnight push from Basecamp, the team arrived at Camp 1 around 9:30 this morning, putting the first big move of the expedition behind them.
The move from Basecamp to Camp 1 covers about 5.5 miles, starting with the descent down Heartbreak Hill before stretching across the relatively flat lower Kahiltna Glacier. Traveling through the overnight hours is the smartest approach on the lower glacier, since the cold temperatures firm up the snow and the snow bridges that span the crevasses below. Rolling into Camp 1 in the morning means the team timed their travel well and got the work done while conditions were at their best.
This expedition carries an especially ambitious objective, as the team is attempting to ski from the summit of Denali. That goal adds a real layer of complexity to the climb, since the team is hauling skis and ski-specific gear in addition to the standard expedition kit. Every carry and camp move is a little heavier and bulkier as a result, but it’s all part of the bigger goal of earning turns from 20,310 feet. Days like today, getting the lower mountain moves done efficiently, help set the foundation for that summit ski attempt down the line.
For now, the June 16th Snyder team is settled in at Camp 1, getting tents pitched and resting up after a strong overnight push. With the first move behind them and an exciting objective ahead, the team is off to a great start on their Denali expedition.
Camp 1 from Ski Hill
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