The June 16th Snyder team made the move up to 14 Camp today, reaching one of the most important camps on the West Buttress on their Denali ski expedition!
The move from Camp 2 to 14 Camp is one of the bigger days on Denali, gaining roughly 3,000 feet of elevation through demanding terrain. The team climbed up Motorcycle Hill, worked their way across Squirrel Hill, pushed through Windy Corner at around 13,500 feet, and finished at 14 Camp at 14,200 feet. It’s a long, physically demanding day with heavy loads, and for a ski team hauling skis and ski-specific gear in addition to the standard kit, getting everyone into camp ready to settle in is a real accomplishment.
14 Camp sits at the center of any West Buttress expedition. It’s the staging ground for the upper mountain and the launching point for summit pushes in the days ahead. For the Snyder team, it’s also a major waypoint on the way to attempting a summit ski descent, since every foot of elevation gained is terrain they’ll eventually get to ski back down.
There’s also some exciting potential on the horizon. A storm is approaching the mountain, and while incoming weather often means a hold for climbing teams, for a ski team it could mean something a little different: fresh snow and the possibility of some powder skiing in the days to come! Denali isn’t a mountain known for soft turns, so any chance at fresh powder up high is a fun bonus on a ski expedition like this one.
For now, the June 16th Snyder team is settled in at 14 Camp, getting tents pitched and bodies fed after a big day on the rope. With the move behind them, the upper mountain in view, and a storm that could bring some fresh snow, the ski expedition is rolling right along.
Descending out of basecamp
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