Gary Falk called in from the top of North America! He and Roger Gregory climbed the last three thousand feet from High Camp to the summit of Denali today. They had amazingly warm temperatures and found themselves actually looking down onto thunderstorms in the valleys below. Congratulations guys! You worked very, very hard and earned…
Team Wedberg and Team Williams are making the final push to the summit! It’s a long, exhausting day of climbing, but the teams are moving well and team members are feeling good. We hope to get a call from the top, but sometimes the weather and temperatures keep them from using the satellite phone up…
Gary Falk called in from 17,200′, with a nicely detailed report on he and Roger’s climb up from 14,200′ this morning. They awoke early and sneaked out of camp ahead of all the other teams, which gave them a huge advantage of not having to wait for anyone who might be ahead of them, but…
Gary Falk called in from 14,200′ with a post that was unfortunately cut short by the inconsistencies of satellite communication from such northern latitudes. He and Roger carried a load up the steepest section of the route today, departing camp and hiking up moderate snow slopes to the base of a feature often called The…
Gary Falk called in an update for him and Roger. The two of them apparently had to enlist some help to drop down below the broad and bustling 14,200′ camp, so as to satisfy a Park Service regulation that prohibits 1:1 guiding below 14,000′. They found someone to go for the hike with them, and…
Jim called in the dispatch tonight, and he reports that Gary, Roger and Steve carried a load of equipment and supplies to a cache site at 13,500′. Immediately out of camp the team began ascending Motorcycle Hill, which gains approximately 1000′, then they tackled Squirrel Hill before cresting onto the relatively moderate terrain of the…
Tonight we have a much better satellite connection with guide Gary Falk, and he clarified that the team made the move up to 11,200′ Camp yesterday and today the team is taking a rest day. It’s important for team members to take rest days to eat, hydrate and relax from the rigors of climbing. It…
Jim’s post from the 11,200′ basin is largely unintelligible, due to the steep southern walls of the basin that prevented them from having a good satellite signal. The team took a rest day at 11,200′ today, allowing their bodies to acclimatize after their trek up the glacier. They will continue their upward momentum tomorrow, as…
Jim Williams called in on behalf of the June 10th team. They moved their camp from the traditional Camp 1 to a camp at about 9,600′. Jim reports that it was extremely windy while they made their move during the middle of the night. They are traveling on a night schedule so as to avoid…
Lead guide Jim Williams called in from 7,800′ at the base of Ski Hill on the broad Kahiltna Glacier with a recap of the past few days. His description is really clear and engaging, and portrays the need for guides and climbers to remain poised, ready and remain flexible, if they want to have success…