The May 9th team seems to be handling life in the snowstorm well.

When climbers get stuck in extended storm cycles on Denali, the camp itself often becomes the project. Snow shovels come out, blocks get cut, and what started as a basic tent platform slowly evolves into something with a little more personality. None of it is strictly necessary, but all of it serves a purpose — the work gets climbers up and moving, generates body heat, and gives everyone a sense of accomplishment on days the mountain isn’t letting them climb.

One of the unexpected upsides of being weathered in at Camp 2 is the chance to say hello to other guided teams sharing the same patch of glacier. Denali is a big mountain, but the camps themselves are surprisingly small communities, and storm days often bring climbers out of their tents to swap stories, share a laugh, and catch up with familiar faces from other expeditions. It’s not uncommon for guides to know each other from past seasons, and quick check-ins between teams are a fun part of camp life. Those small moments of connection go a long way toward keeping morale up when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Take a listen to Mija’s report from the tent at Camp 2 — it sounds like they’ve got some great food on the menu too!

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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.