The June 6th team is officially on their way home! After their incredible summit, the team made their descent from high camp down to 14 Camp this afternoon, and they’re planning to keep the momentum going with an overnight march down to Basecamp tonight.

Traveling the lower glacier through the overnight hours is the smartest approach on Denali. As temperatures drop, the snow refreezes and the snow bridges spanning the crevasses below firm up, making for the safest possible travel across the glacier. It also positions the team to arrive at Basecamp early tomorrow morning, right in time to catch a flight back to Talkeetna.

The descent off Denali is no small effort. After summit day, the climb down from high camp, and now the long pull down the lower mountain, the team is putting in serious work to get themselves off the glacier safely. It takes focus and grit, but with the summit behind them and town in sight, the energy of heading home carries a team a long way.

For now, the June 6th team is at 14 Camp, gearing up for tonight’s march. We are so proud of everything this team accomplished, and we can’t wait to welcome them off the mountain in the morning!

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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.