Hello to all of those who have been following us up the mountain! The June 22nd team, also known as “Team Big Knots”, is back from our expedition on Denali. We had a fun last dinner in Anchorage the other night where we all got to laugh and share some of our favorite stories from…
Jesse called in a late night dispatch from Talkeetna! The team is back in town and looking forward to a soft bed and cold beer tonight. recording
Rob called in this evening catching us up with the June 22nd Denali team after a busy day. The team descended to base camp last night, through the night after the bad weather and bad upcoming weather forecasts continued. Even as they arrived in base camp, the weather didn’t cooperate and they spent the day…
The June 22 Team spent another day at 14k camp. The team didn’t let it go to waste though, and took full advantage by participating in various exercise goals around camp. These include shoveling, digging holes, push ups, perhaps some sprints (very difficult at 14k!). Hopefully, the team gets a weather window soon and can…
Guide Rob Caldwell called in an update on Team Big Knots, weathering the storm at Camp Three at 14,200′. The team was not able to move today due to weather, so they kept busy with drills to practice putting on all of their cold weather gear with crampons on–which is much tougher than it sounds,…
Climber Steve Daniels called in via satellite phone for the June 22 “Big Knots” team. The team, conveniently enough, had a planned rest day today, which aligns well with the current weather conditions. A couple of our other teams have enjoyed an “extended stay” at 14-Camp due to the weather, and have been hanging tough…
The June 22 “Team Big Knots” West Buttress Team called in an update after a busy day at Camp Three. After backcarrying to retrieve their cache back down at around 13,500′ near Windy Corner, the team came back up to camp to practice skills for the upcoming fixed lines on the steep headwall above camp,…
The team calls in from Camp 14,200′ after a beautiful move day. The “Big Knots” are feeling great and excited to continue their climb up Denali. Above them lay the “Fixed Lines”. Eight hundred feet of steep snow climbing to gain the granite speckled ridge that leads to High Camp. Tomorrow they plan to retrieve…
Team calls in from Camp 2 @ 11,200′ after they carried loads and secured their cache around Windy Corner. This is when show shoes are left behind for travel and crampons are used for the steeper terrain ahead. High fives and hugs were exchanged with other Mountain Trip teams on their way down and back…
Pat calls in from Camp 2 @ 11,200′. Taking a rest day and practicing skills for the upper mountain the plan is to secure a cache tomorrow up around the feature of Windy Corner. This is the time where snowshoes are traded in for crampons for the steeper terrain above. Everyone is feeling great and…