The May 14th team had a strong day on the mountain, getting a cache in up on the ridge! By all accounts the team did well overall, taking on one of the more demanding objectives of the upper mountain and getting their supplies staged higher up the route.

Caching on the ridge is a significant step on the West Buttress. After climbing the fixed lines above 14 Camp, teams reach the exposed ridgeline that leads toward high camp, a long and committing stretch of climbing with steep terrain and notable exposure on both sides. Successfully getting a cache up there is an important milestone on the way to eventually establishing high camp, and it reflects the steady, methodical work the team has put in to reach this point on the mountain.

With the cache in place, the team is now weighing their options for the next phase of the climb. A couple of key factors are in play. The forecast is calling for low temperatures at high camp, which is always a serious consideration on the upper mountain, and the team is also keeping a close eye on the time remaining in their schedule. These are exactly the kinds of variables that experienced guides and teams have to balance carefully on Denali. Decisions about when and whether to push higher are never made lightly, and weighing conditions, timing, and the team’s overall position is what responsible, safe climbing looks like at altitude.

For now, the May 14th team is at 14 Camp with a successful cache day behind them, talking through their next move and looking at the days ahead. We’ll have more to share once the team settles on a plan, and we’re proud of the strong work they’ve put in to get this far up the mountain.

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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.