The June 22nd team faced a challenging day on the mountain today. The team set out to make the move up to high camp but turned back partway up the fixed lines due to high winds and snow, choosing to return to 14 Camp rather than push into difficult conditions.

Recent days have brought significant wind and new snow to the upper mountain, and the team and their guides are watching conditions closely as they weigh their options. When Denali serves up weather like this, forcing progress rarely pays off. Slowing down, taking stock, and letting the mountain settle is almost always the wiser path, and that’s the approach the team is taking right now.

Tonight, the team is talking through their options together, both as a group and one-on-one, to figure out the best path forward. Whatever they land on will be a call made with safety front and center and with every climber’s voice in the mix.

For now, the June 22nd team is at 14 Camp, weighing their next move. We’ll have more to share once the team settles on a plan.

—

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.