Life in Camp 1
The June 7th team is officially on the mountain! The team flew into Basecamp today and pushed straight up the lower glacier, arriving at Camp 1 to round out their first day on Denali.
By all reports, the team had ideal conditions for their first big day. The weather was warm, the route was in great shape, and the lower glacier was so well-consolidated that the team didn’t need snowshoes for the climb. There were no open crevasses to navigate around, which is about as smooth as a first day on the Kahiltna can be. Conditions on the lower glacier can vary quite a bit depending on the time of season, and the team caught it in great form today.
The move from Basecamp to Camp 1 covers about 5.5 miles, starting with the descent down Heartbreak Hill before stretching across the relatively flat lower Kahiltna Glacier. Knocking out that move on day one with heavy loads is a strong way to open an expedition, and the team made the most of the conditions they were given.
Looking ahead, the team is planning to single carry to Camp 2 tomorrow. A single carry means moving all their supplies in one trip rather than caching part of the load partway up and back-carrying it later. It’s a more efficient approach when conditions are good and the team is feeling strong, and it lets the team make quick, decisive progress up the route.
For now, the June 7th team is settled in at Camp 1 after a strong first day on the mountain. With good conditions, smooth travel, and ambitious plans for tomorrow, the team is off to an excellent start on their Denali expedition.
—
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.
