The May 17th team had a great day on the mountain, getting a cache in around Windy Corner! The team summed it up simply, calling it a “cruiser day,” which on Denali is about as good as it gets. When a team describes a day as cruiser, it usually means the climbing went smoothly, the conditions cooperated, and everyone moved well without any major hurdles along the way.

Getting a cache through Windy Corner is no small feat, which makes a cruiser day there all the more impressive. Sitting at around 13,500 feet, Windy Corner is one of the more notorious sections of the West Buttress, known for funneling wind off the upper mountain and shutting down progress when conditions turn. Catching it on a good day, moving efficiently with a load of supplies, and stashing that cache higher up the route is exactly the kind of progress that builds momentum on an expedition.

With supplies now staged higher up the mountain, the team has effectively shortened their next move and set themselves up for a smoother push toward 14 Camp. Days like this, where the climbing clicks and the conditions line up, are a welcome part of any Denali climb and a great sign of how well the team is moving together.

For now, the May 17th team is back at camp with a strong, smooth day behind them. We’re excited to see them keep building on this momentum as they continue working their way up the route.

Mountain Trip teams on Windy Corner

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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.