June 7th Team on the summit of Denali!

The June 7th team stood on top of Denali today, and even better, they were the first Mountain Trip team to reach the summit and the first ones back to high camp! After weeks of work on the mountain, standing on the top of North America at 20,310 feet is an absolutely massive accomplishment, and we could not be more proud.

Summit day on Denali is one of the longest and most demanding days of climbing anywhere in the world. From high camp at 17,200 feet, climbers face thousands of feet of elevation gain, brutal cold, thin air, and exposed terrain on the way to the 20,310-foot summit. The day can run anywhere from 12 to 16 hours of climbing, and every step requires focus, strength, and grit. To not only summit but also be the first team up and back to high camp speaks to how strong and efficient this team climbed today. That kind of pace on summit day reflects great fitness, smart decision-making, and a team that moved well together every step of the way.

What makes today even more meaningful is everything that came before it. This team navigated the lower glacier, hauled heavy loads through Windy Corner, worked the fixed lines, climbed the ridge, and made the committing move to high camp. They supported each other through long days, rested smart when it counted, and stayed sharp all the way to the top. By the time they stepped off from high camp this morning, they had built the kind of foundation that summit days are made of.

For now, the team is back at high camp, resting after one of the biggest days of their lives. We are absolutely thrilled for every member of the June 7th team. Congratulations to the climbers and guides on a hard-earned and incredible summit on Denali!

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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.