The June 15th team summited Denali today, reaching the top of North America at 5:30 this evening! After weeks of work on the mountain, standing on the 20,310-foot summit is an absolutely massive accomplishment, and even better, the whole team is now safely back at high camp. 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, and today’s push tested the team in a few ways. The team had to break trail through fresh snow for much of the climb, from high camp all the way up to Pig Hill, which adds significant effort to an already grueling day. On the Autobahn, the traverse leading up to Denali Pass, many of the protection points along the route were buried under wind-deposited snow, which slowed the team’s progress and made the climb to Denali Pass take longer than expected. Despite the added challenges, the team kept moving steadily and reached the summit after about eight hours and thirty-five minutes of climbing.

Breaking trail and navigating tougher-than-usual conditions makes a summit day like this even more of an achievement. It speaks to the team’s fitness, patience, and determination that they were able to push through the deep snow and the slower sections and still reach the top. Days like this are a powerful reminder that on Denali, the summit is never handed out easily.

For now, the June 15th team is back at high camp, resting after one of the biggest days of their lives. We are absolutely thrilled for every member of the June 15th team. Congratulations to the climbers and guides on a hard-earned and incredible summit on Denali!

Summit Day!

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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.