The June 16th Gillig team made it up to high camp today, reaching 17,200 feet and putting themselves in position for a summit attempt on their Denali ski expedition!
The move from 14 Camp to high camp is one of the more demanding days on Denali. It involves climbing the fixed lines above 14, navigating the long, exposed ridge that leads to high camp, and finishing high on the upper mountain with all the gear needed to live and climb at altitude. For a ski team hauling skis and ski-specific equipment in addition to the standard kit, getting everyone into high camp ready to settle in is a real accomplishment.
The team also mentioned how nice it was to have other familiar climbers out front on the route today. There’s a real sense of community on Denali, and moving alongside other teams on the upper mountain has its benefits. Familiar faces, shared trail-breaking, and the ability to communicate easily about conditions all add to the day and to the overall margin of safety, especially on the more committing terrain leading up to high camp.
With the team now at high camp, the focus shifts to resting, acclimatizing, and waiting for the right weather window to make a summit attempt. For this team, the summit is only half the goal, since reaching the top sets up the bigger objective of skiing back down some of the most dramatic terrain on the continent.
For now, the June 16th Gillig team is settled in at high camp, getting their rest and getting ready for what comes next. The summit is in view, the team is in position, and the ski expedition is entering its most pivotal stretch.
June 16th team at High Camp
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