Lead Guide Harrison from the May 12th West Buttress Denali Expedition called in from sunny and warm Talkeetna, Alaska, where all weary climbers end their great Denali adventure!

Here’s Harrison: Audio Recording

Compared to the cold snow-covered slopes of Denali, the little town of Talkeetna feels like a veritable paradise to climbers after they unload from the Talkeetna Air Taxi “Otters” that fly them out of the mountains. As soon as you step off the plane, you are immediately hit with the smells of organic growth, the richness of oxygenated air, and the sight of greenery every you look. It’s an abrupt change, only 20 minutes after leaving the airstrip on the Kahiltna Glacier. But it feels pretty amazing…

Congrats again to the climbers of the May 12th Expedition for making it safely back to civilization! 

Stay tuned for Lead Guide Harrison’s final report on the trip, coming soon.