The June 22nd team checked in via satellite phone today with some shout-outs to their families back home, calling in from Camp 2 as a blizzard moves through the area!
Storm days are a familiar part of any Denali expedition, and right now the team is hunkered down at Camp 2, waiting out the weather. When a blizzard rolls in, pushing higher on the mountain isn’t worth the risk, so the team is staying put, staying warm, and letting the storm pass before making their next move.
Tent life during a Denali storm has its own rhythm. The day gets broken up by small routines like boiling water for hot drinks, digging out tent entrances after fresh snow piles up, and the occasional dash outside to stretch the legs. In between, there’s plenty of time for reading, card games, conversations that wander into the strangest territory, and the simple act of resting. It isn’t glamorous, but riding out a storm together is one of those shared experiences that quietly brings a team closer. And taking a moment to call home and send some love to family and friends is exactly the kind of thing that keeps spirits high when the weather isn’t cooperating.
For a ski team, there’s also a quiet upside to a good storm: fresh snow. While a blizzard means a hold on climbing for now, all that new snow could set up some great skiing in the days to come, which is a fun thought to hold onto while waiting out the weather.
For now, the June 22nd team is staying patient, staying warm, and keeping an eye on the forecast at Camp 2. We’ll have more to share once the storm passes and the team is ready to move again.
June 22nd Team
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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.
