The June 12th team stood on top of Denali this evening around 7 PM, reaching the summit of North America after weeks of work on the mountain! The team is still making their way down and should be back at high camp within the next few hours. We could not be more proud.
Summit day on Denali is one of the longest and most demanding days of climbing anywhere in the world. From high camp at 17,200 feet, climbers face thousands of feet of elevation gain, brutal cold, thin air, and exposed terrain on the way to the 20,310-foot summit. The day can run anywhere from 12 to 16 hours of climbing, and every step requires focus, strength, and grit. For a rapid ascent team climbing on a compressed timeline, reaching the summit is an especially impressive achievement, and this group earned every single step of it.
What makes today even more meaningful is everything that came before it. This team moved efficiently up the lower glacier, hauled loads through Windy Corner, worked the fixed lines, climbed the ridge, and made the committing move to high camp, all on a faster timeline than a standard expedition. They supported each other through long days, climbed strong together, and stayed sharp all the way to the top.
For now, the team is making their way back down to high camp, where they’ll rest after one of the biggest days of their lives. We are absolutely thrilled for every member of the June 12th team. Congratulations to the climbers and guides on a hard-earned and incredible summit on Denali!
—
Family and friends are encouraged to leave comments for their loved ones on this expedition. Please keep in mind that climbers will not be able to see posts or comments until they return to Talkeetna at the end of the expedition.
Don’t forget that you can subscribe to this expedition’s Field Reports by entering your email address in the form to the right or below if viewing via mobile. That way, you never miss an update!
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.
