The May 17th team had a great day out today, getting a cache in on the pass! After the long stretch of weather and waiting that defined the start of this expedition, it’s a real boost to see the team putting solid work in on the route.

Caching on the pass is an important step on the West Buttress and one of the first significant moves a team makes above Camp 1. By stashing supplies higher up the route, the team starts shifting the weight of their expedition up the mountain piece by piece. It’s also a chance to get familiar with the terrain ahead and dial in the rhythm of glacier travel before committing to a full move with all of camp in tow.

One interesting note from the report: the team mentioned that the trail sounds a bit wandery today. That’s not unusual on Denali, especially after recent storms. Wind, fresh snow, and shifting glacier conditions can all reshape the route over time, and the established track left by previous teams can drift, get buried, or wind around in unexpected ways. A “wandery” trail just means the team is doing the work of route-finding as they go, which is all part of moving safely on glaciated terrain.

For now, the May 17th team is back in camp with a successful cache behind them and a strong day of climbing in the books. It’s the kind of progress that builds momentum, and we’re hopeful for more of the same in the days ahead.

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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.