The May 14th team sounds like they’re bonding well at Camp 2! No surprise there — going through the shared experience of being tent-bound during a Denali storm tends to bring a team together quickly.

It sounds like they’re making the most of their downtime and getting creative with the camp itself. One of the more entertaining traditions of long storm days is building “fun” infrastructure around camp — things like a snow-block roof on the bathroom. It doesn’t always get built, but when the team is bored and looking to burn some energy, it’s a great way to pass the time and put their shovels to work. Over the years, climbers stuck in extended weather holds on Denali have built some elaborate snow structures such as block walls and windbreaks, fully sculpted kitchens, benches and tables carved into the snow, and the occasional creative flourish that has more to do with imagination than utility. These projects serve a real purpose beyond just killing time. They get climbers moving, generate body heat, and turn a frustrating delay into something productive and even fun. Just as importantly, they remind the team that they’re working together, even on the days when the mountain refuses to cooperate.

Tune in to the May 14th team while they wait out the storm.

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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.