Mountain Trip Guides Matt Park and Fischer Hazen both left dispatches from 14,200′, after the West Rib team climbed to the summit and then descended all the way down to 14 Camp. They had an amazing day on the upper reaches of North America’s tallest peak, benefiting from perfect weather and the time the team…
Dave Helland, Fischer Hazen and Matt Park are standing on the summit of Denali! They’ve been working hard for weeks, climbing up and down a couple routes in order to reach the top of North America. They awoke early this morning, brewed up and sorted their gear as they gazed upwards, wondering if the day…
Dave Helland rang in from 17,200′ on Denali today. In his words, “After getting beaten off the West Rib” they dropped down to 14,200′ on the West Buttress for the night. Today, in windy conditions, they pushed up to High Camp on the West Buttress. The weather seems to be trending better, so they are…
After days of continuous wind and facing the end of the eight days of food they carried up onto the West Rib, the team has decided to drop down to resupply from a cache they left at 14,200′ on the West Buttress. They really needed less windy conditions to fire the last part of the…
The wind in the background really tells the story for our West Rib team. Fischer called in to report that they are hanging tough at high camp, but the winds have been strong and climbing to the summit was not an option today. They are perched up at the balcony camp, high camp up at…
The winds picked up and the team hunkered down at camp today. They will be observing the weather closely and waiting for an opportunity to continue ascending. Here’s Dave with today’s report: recording
The West Rib team is at their high camp and taking a rest/acclimatization day before heading to the summit. They are enjoying beautiful views, checking the forecasts, and watching the weather hoping to get a shot at the summit in the next couple of days. Here’s Fischer with the update from Balcony Camp:
The West Rib team climbed up to high camp today through some fun ice and mixed terrain. They are settled in at high camp now at about 16,500 ft and are enjoying dinner and birthday celebrations for guide Matt Park! They’re watching the weather closely now and will go for the summit from here in…
Dave Helland gave a shout from 14,200′ on the West Buttress route. The team put a cache in on the upper portion of the West Rib, took a rest day and tomorrow they plan to get onto the West Rib itself. Their plan is to climb up to the Rib and then drop down the…
The West Rib team carried a load of supplies up onto the route to an elevation of about 16,200′ today. Lead Guide Fischer Hazen called in with the update as the team enjoyed yet another day of splitter weather. They are now provisioned and in position for an attempt on the route. We’ll keep you…