The May 13th West Buttress Denali Expedition successfully back carries and brings all gear up to Camp 2!
Lead Guide Jesse called in to describe their day, but unfortunately the transmission gets cut off about halfway through. Satellite phones have a tough time at Camp 2 due to the narrow confines of the valley where the May 10th Team is currently situated. Either way, give it a listen to hear from Jesse!
If you’re having a hard time visualizing where the May 13th Team currently is on the route, don’t forget to check out SummitDenali.com where you can play with our interactive map of the route!
Camp 2 is where the air begins to get thin and the route begins to steepen. In the image below, you can see Motorcycle Hill, which is the steep climb leading out of camp.
Camp 2 at 11,000′ on the West Buttress Route on Denali.
DID YOU KNOW? The first ascent of the West Buttress of Denali was completed by Bradford Washburn and his team in July 1951, establishing the standard route up the mountain. The West Buttress is the most popular route on Denali, because it is considered the easiest and safest route. The route is 16.5 miles long and has an ascent of 13,570 feet from the air strip to the summit!
Now that the May 13th Team is fully established at Camp 2 with all of their food and gear, they will begin hoping for an opportunity to continue their ascent by caching around Windy Corner in the coming days. Stay tuned!
