The June 20 team made it back into High Camp late last night after a long day on the mountain. They tucked into warm bags after being out in the elements for several hours and I’m sure slept very hard. Today they will pack up and start making their way back to Basecamp! A High…
Congratulations to our June 20 expedition team!! We have been so fortunate to see a lot of Mountain Trip West Buttress teams stand on Denali’s frigid summit this year, and we are so stoked to be able to add this team to their ranks. Not an easy feat, this day requires a long and big…
It’s not an easy day, moving from 14,200′ (4328m) to 17,200′ (5242m). But it sounds like our crew here did an excellent job and found themselves some nice conditions and low traffic. Yesterday the team left camp and first climbed up a somewhat steep slope known fondly as the Bunny Hill. After about 1,000′ of…
The team was able to take some time yesterday to hike up towards the Fixed Lines and use the slope there to practice some of their technical skills. At this point, moving up the mountain requires proficiency in the use of ascender as well as running protection. Running protection is the use of snow pickets…
Our crew here enjoyed a well deserved rest day at 14,200′ (4328m). They took a little trip to the Edge of the World. A gorgeous and dramatic viewpoint, where Genet Basin drops an astonishing 6,000′ (1828m) (although Jason said 3,000′ on his call, we believe it is at least 6,000′) to the Southeast Fork of…
After moving to Camp 3 at 14,200′ (4328m) the day before yesterday, the team returned to their cache at 13,200′ (4023m) to retrieve their cache. They are now fully supplied at Camp 3. The enjoyed an active rest day, with plenty of snacking and warm drinks. Often teams will take this time to practice some…
Yesterday the team packed up camp for another move. Tackling Motorcycle Hill, Squirrel Hill, and Windy Corner, they found themselves in Genet Basin where Camp 3 lies at 14,200′ (4328m). The backdrop of the basin is dramatic and inspiring. Behind camp, the Headwall rises up to meet the ridge at 16,200′ (4937m). The ridge climbs and…
Immediately out of the camp, the climbers first ascend for a mile up Motorcycle Hill. Topping out here, they are at the base of another hill known as Squirrel Hill, with dramatic views of the Peters Glacier dropping down to their left. They climb up Squirrel Hill and find themselves in an up-sloping basin of…
Yesterday the team climbed up from their camp around 10,200′ (3108m) to Camp 2 which sits at 11,200′ (3413m). Camp 2 sits below some magnificent seracs, which are large columns of ice that peel off of the glacier as it moves over convexities in the terrain. The team can see the top of Kahiltna Dome…
Yesterday our team of folks was able to climb up Ski Hill from Camp 1 at 7,800′ (2377m) onto an upper portion of the glacier. Navigating some rolling terrain here, the team made their way to 10,300′ (3139m), below Kahiltna Pass. They dug in camp here, and enjoyed a warm dinner whipped up by our…