Lead guide Josh Jesperson calls in from Camp 1 yesterday. The team left Basecamp early yesterday morning. They packed up camp into their backpacks and sleds, laid out their ropes, and tied in. Trudging off with all 110lbs of food, gear, and fuel EACH that they flew onto the glacier with. This first day is one of the tougher ones because of all the weight. But today the team should be caching above Camp 1 and below Camp 2, to lighten their loads as they continue to climb up the mountain. First as they left camp, they actually descended down Heartbreak Hill about 600′ (1828m) to the main body of the Kahiltna Glacier. Like a river, the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna where Basecamp is located is a tributary of the main body, so like flowing water, it flows downstream to meet the Kahiltna proper. From here, they traveled 5.5 miles and 1,000′ (304m) to Camp 1. Camp 1 is located below Ski Hill which rises about 1,200′ (365m) above Camp 1. Here in this little “nook”, the glacier is compacted by the force of ice traveling down Ski Hill, reducing the risk of crevasses and offering an ideal camp spot.

Also we received some photos of the team!! Here they are!

Here’s Josh:

recording