Lead Guide Logan Demarcus called in from Base Camp! The team was fortunate to catch the last flight of the evening into Base Camp and spent today reviewing skills that they will need to employ in the coming days as they begin their ascent of the West Buttress of Denali.
Base Camp is located on the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier, at about 7,200 feet of elevation. It is a stunning place! On a clear day you can look north and see Denali framed by a saddle of the impressive Mount Francis that towers above the SE Fork. To the southeast, the mile-tall North Buttress of Mount Hunter strains the mind to understand that sort of vertical relief. Panning your view to the west, it is near impossible to wrap your head around the fact that Mount Foraker, which is just across the main body of the Kahiltna Glacier is soaring two vertical miles above your camp!
Tomorrow, the team plans to pack up their camp and head about five miles up the Kahiltna to 7,800′ where they will establish their first camp of the expedition.
