The May 30th team is on their way off the mountain! After their successful summit, the team made their descent from high camp down to 14 Camp this afternoon, arriving at around 3:30 PM. They picked up the rest of their gear at 14 and then launched their long pull down the lower glacier around 9 PM this evening, with plans to arrive at Basecamp early tomorrow morning.
Traveling down the lower glacier in the late evening and overnight hours is one of the smartest approaches on Denali. As temperatures drop, the snow refreezes and the snow bridges that span the crevasses below firm up significantly. Moving during these hours is the safest way to cross the lower glacier, and it positions the team to arrive at Basecamp in time to catch the first flights out in the morning.
That said, traveling overnight has its own challenges. Climbers are moving when their bodies naturally want to rest, pushing through fatigue and cold in the small hours of the morning while staying sharp on terrain that demands attention. After summit day, the descent from high camp, and now the long pull down the lower mountain, the team is putting in serious work to get themselves off the glacier quickly and safely.
The team will be met in Talkeetna tomorrow morning as soon as they fly off the mountain. For now, the May 30th team is on the rope and working their way down the Kahiltna. We’re so proud of everything this team has accomplished, and we can’t wait to welcome them off the glacier in the morning!
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