After four days in Talkeetna, our May 17th team still hasn’t been able to fly onto the glacier. It’s been a long stretch on the ground, but every Denali season comes with its share of weather delays, and this one is reminding us why patience is one of the most important tools in a climber’s kit.

What’s impressive is how well the team has rolled with it. Long weather delays can wear on even the most experienced climbers, but this group has leaned into the wait rather than fight it. Plans for tomorrow morphing into plans for the day after, gear getting unpacked and repacked, daily check-ins on the forecast that don’t bring the news anyone is hoping for — it all has the potential to chip away at morale. Instead, the May 17th team has stayed loose, kept their sense of humor intact, and turned their downtime in Talkeetna into part of the experience rather than an obstacle in the way of it.

That kind of attitude matters more than people realize. Denali rewards climbers who can stay flexible, adapt to what the mountain hands them, and find good moments even when the schedule isn’t cooperating. By the time this team finally steps onto the glacier, they’ll be carrying that mindset with them, and it’s the kind of foundation that pays off over the course of a long expedition.

Take a listen to the latest dispatch from the May 17th team below — it sounds like they’re keeping spirits high and making the most of every extra day in town.

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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.