Mountain Trip guide Nick Nason called in on behalf of the June 15th Denali team.  They made the big push up a stunning ridge to arrive at 17,200′ today.  The morning started with another ascent of the fixed lines, clipping in with their ascenders to gain added security on the 40-45 degree slope.  The ridge leading the final 1000′ to High Camp is exciting, with big exposure as you climb along its crest.

The crew spent some time fortifying camp, by cutting blocks of snow from the frozen surface and stacking them to build walls around their tents.  High Camp is somewhat protected, but at times the wind can be brutal, so it pays to plan for the worst, by building a solid camp.

Beginning tomorrow, they will awaken each morning with the plan of heading to the summit.  Winds and visibility are the biggest weather factors for summit day, but the team has plenty of time.

Here’s Nick!