Denali Basecamp

The June 12th team is officially on the mountain! After making the drive to Talkeetna this afternoon, the team flew into Basecamp around 5:30 PM this evening, marking the official start of their Denali expedition.

Once on the glacier, the team didn’t waste any time. Rather than spend the night at Basecamp, they’re planning to launch toward Camp 1 around 11 PM. Heading up the lower glacier in the late evening hours is one of the smartest approaches on Denali. As temperatures drop, the snow refreezes and the snow bridges that span the crevasses below firm up significantly. Moving during these hours is the safest way to cross the lower glacier, and it lets the team make real progress on day one without having to wait through a full night at Basecamp.

That said, this kind of opening day takes serious effort. After the drive, the flight in, and getting all the gear unloaded and organized at Basecamp, the team is now stepping straight into a long, demanding push up the lower mountain. It’s the kind of strong, decisive start that sets the tone for the rest of the expedition.

For now, the June 12th team is at Basecamp getting ready for tonight’s launch. With the climb officially underway and momentum building, the team is off to a great start on their Denali expedition.

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Interested in more information about conditions and happenings on Denali? Be sure to also check out the Denali National Park’s Denali Dispatches Blog where they post weekly Field Reports.