The June 16th Gillig team took a rest day at 14 Camp today, using the downtime to recover and acclimatize before looking ahead to the next phase of their Denali ski expedition.

Rest days at 14 Camp are an important part of the upper mountain rhythm. Spending time at 14,200 feet gives the body a chance to adapt to the altitude before pushing higher on the mountain, and going into the next move well-rested and properly acclimatized makes a real difference once the climbing gets more demanding. A day spent eating, hydrating, and resting pays real dividends when it comes time to put the work in higher up.

For a ski team, rest days also offer a chance to take stock of the terrain and conditions around them. From 14 Camp, the upper mountain comes into clearer view, and every bit of that terrain is something the team will eventually be eyeing for their summit ski descent. Days like this help the team stay sharp and ready for both the climb up and the ski back down.

For now, the June 16th Gillig team is settled in at 14 Camp, rested up and getting ready for whatever comes next. With a solid recovery day behind them and the upper mountain in view, the ski expedition is in a great spot heading into the next phase of the climb.

Sleds and gear ready to travel

Skis loaded up!

The migration up the mountain

Getting a close up of the snowpack

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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.