The June 10th team is officially on the mountain and on the move! Word from the team this morning was that they were planning to push up the route, with the possibility of camping at 9,500 feet if the weather cooperated and the winds stayed manageable on Saturday.

Camping at 9,500 feet is a useful intermediate spot on the West Buttress. Rather than push all the way to Camp 2 in a single big day, some teams opt for an intermediate camp to break up the work of climbing the lower glacier into more manageable pieces. It’s a strategy that helps climbers acclimatize gradually while still making solid progress on the route, and it’s a smart approach when the conditions or the team make it the right call.

We haven’t received an update since this morning, which isn’t unusual on a big move day. Between roping up, hauling loads, and getting camp set up at a new spot, the priority once tents are pitched is usually a hot meal and a sleeping bag rather than the satellite phone. We’ll have more to share once the team checks in.

For now, the June 10th team is making their first big moves on Denali. With the route ahead and good momentum building, the team is off to a strong start on their expedition.

NPS meeting

May 30th Team

Flight onto the glacier

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