Mountain trip Guide Mason Stansfield called in, but his satellite phone dropped the call after he mentioned “good chocolate.” Strange… Well, satellite phones at high latitudes work best when they have a clear view toward the equator and from the beautiful basin in which the team is camped, the view south is blocked by towering…
The May 3rd Team checks in from Camp 2, where they stayed put today, due to weather. This camp is nestled deep in a stunning bowl, with tall ice cliffs to the south, and steep snow and ice ringing the east and northern aspects of camp. A challenge with satellite phones at such far…
Goulven Couzon lest a message in French that (I believe, and please correct me if I’m wrong in the comments) John Molloy then translated for us (j’ai oubliez mon français…). The team has moved up the Kahiltna Glacier approximately five miles (8km) and established camp at the junction of the Kahiltna and the Northeast Fork…
The May 3rd team went back down to where they’d cached their extra food, fuel, and equipment and brought it all back up to Camp 2 (11,000 ft) today. It was a pretty stormy day Jacob (lead guide with 20 Denali Expeditions) said it was one of the top 2 stormy windy days he’s had…
Fred de Jong called in on behalf of our May 3rd team. After a day of heavy snow yesterday, the team awoke to beautiful weather today and took advantage of clear skies to move their camp up to 11,200′ (3414m). They are now camped in a beautiful basin with views of the West Buttress looming…
After a little delay, the team has made it into basecamp! The trip starts with a 45 minute flight in a ski plane into the middle of the Alaska Range, so as you might imagine, the weather can sometimes be a problem. Their patience paid off and they are settled in to basecamp tonight on…
Guide Mason Stansfield called in an update for the May 3 Denali Expedition from the upper Kahiltna. The team spent yesterday caching at Kahiltna Pass, at around 10,500′. Since the team is climbing in expedition-style, they will spend many days “caching”–burying gear, food and supplies that they wont need until later on in the trip–and…
Mountain Trip lead guide Brian Kramp called in an update for the May 6 team, who have been waiting to fly in to the Range in Talkeetna, due to persistent rainy weather. They’re unfortunately the first team of the season to experience the infamous “Talkeetna Hang,” where climbing parties are forced to wait in the…
Welcome to Alaska, May 6 team! This will be our 46th consecutive season guiding on Denali, and we’re honored to welcome the May 6 team and all of the other climbers that have trusted us to help them test their fortitude on the highest mountain in North America. At 20,310 feet (6190 m), Denali rises…
Climber Robert de Jong called in an update for the May 3 Denali Team from Camp One on the Kahiltna Glacier. They spent yesterday ascending Ski Hill, directly above camp, to set a cache near Kahiltna Pass, at approximately 10,500′ (2875m) to prepare for the move to Camp Two at 11,200′. Sporadic snow and clear…