May 16th team moving across the glacier

May 16th team on the fixed lines above 14k camp

The May 16th team took another rest day at 14 Camp today as high winds moved into the area. With the upper mountain getting hammered by wind, the team made the smart call to stay put and wait for conditions to ease before making the move up to high camp.

High winds are one of the most common reasons teams hold at 14 Camp before pushing higher. The move up to high camp takes the team through the fixed lines and along the exposed ridge, all of which become much more difficult and dangerous when the wind picks up. Pushing into those kinds of conditions just to keep moving isn’t worth the risk, and waiting for a better window is always the right call.

The upside is that extra time at 14 Camp continues to pay dividends. Every day spent at 14,200 feet is more time for the body to acclimatize to the altitude, and going into the move to high camp well-rested makes a real difference once the climbing gets harder and the air gets thinner.

For now, the May 16th team is staying patient, staying ready, and keeping an eye on the forecast. We’ll have more to share once the wind eases and the team gets their window to move higher.

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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.