Hey there, family and friends! Dallas Glass here from the Denali June 10th expedition. You’ll be glad to know we’re all back in the land of green grass, hot showers, and soft beds. While we’re all certainly enjoying some of the simple things in life, it’s nice to reflect on our final days on the mountain and the trip as a whole.
There’s a color of blue you only see during arctic twilight. It’s hard to describe; it’s soft yet vibrant, calm yet mesmerizing. The long shadow of the West Buttress drifted across the 14,000-foot camp as we made the last adjustments to our packs and donned our crampons for one final, long walk. As we retraced our steps around Windy Corner, down the Polo Field, over Squirrel and Motorcycle Hills, the midnight sun sank lower and lower on the horizon. The sky turned this special arctic blue, and we quietly and slowly descended the mountain.
I’d like to think all of our team used this walk through the night to reflect on the expedition. I know I did. Maybe they remembered the elation of the summit, but they likely also thought of funny stories from the kitchen tent, an old friend they bumped into in camp, or the moment the West Buttress and 14 Camp first came into view. Maybe they contemplated how Denali posed a massive challenge and caused them to grow, learn, and change. Maybe they even shed a tear or two of gratitude for this magical place: the mountains, the people, the experience.
Slowly the arctic blue began to turn orange and red as sunset turned seamlessly into sunrise. Moments later, we made the final turn onto the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna and began the grinding march up Heartbreak Hill. Sure, this last challenge induced plenty of groans, but I doubt any of us will much remember it. Instead, we’ll probably talk about how we walked into basecamp with just enough time to organize our gear, have a simple breakfast, and jump on the first flight off the glacier.
The expedition may be over, but the learning and memories certainly are not. We’ll all continue to reflect on this unique time on one of the world’s great mountains. We’d all like to thank our family and friends who made this possible. Your support makes you every bit one of our teammates. The encouraging words you uttered carried us through this amazing challenge.
Dallas Glass
Lead Guide
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